Have you ever struggled with the idea that God is able to do something and it seems He just won’t?

I have. Often. Babies dying at birth. Friends and loved ones sick with cancer. Unforeseen financial fall-outs. Broken marriages. Addictions that won’t stop.

If God is God and quite capable of fixing things, why doesn’t He?

Ephesians 3:20 says this:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This verse is often used when we are dreaming and praying about good and great things in life. We celebrate the idea that God is able to go beyond what our little minds can imagine.

He can…

• bring the lost to church
• bring us fortune and unsuspected checks in the mail
• open up ministry opportunity

He is able to do all those things and He does…sometimes.

I like this verse. It makes me feel good for the good things.

But, what about the bad things? Is he still “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”?

The answer is ‘yes,’ He is able, but He doesn’t always do it that way. We know it. And He knows it. But, there is something in this verse we need to look at closely.

He does the immeasurably more…”according to his power that is at work within us.”

Within us.

Inside.

The deep places.

The dark places.

Our prayer should be that God would do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine according to his power that is at work WITHIN me…in all things and at all times. I get so caught up in what he is doing on the outside in my circumstances that I often forget that His power is made perfect inside this weak body.

For the four thousand years before Christ, God was doing the “immeasurably more on the outside:

• fire-licked bushes
• parting seas
• angels guarding the garden
• frogs, gnats, darkness, famine
• stopping the sun
• an angel speaking to a virgin…

With her, it all changed. She birthed the New Way for man.

God switched His focus. The immeasurable more would now come inside man through His Holy Spirit. His power would now be most recognized on the faces of humanity.

Why would He do this?

“…to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!”

Does God do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine in our outer circumstances? You betcha! I’ve seen it. Babies who were supposed to die have lived. People with cancer, healed. Financial recovery. Mended marriages. Broken addictions. He is able and He does do it.

His goal for His followers is a changed heart, a transformed mind, a man or woman conformed to the likeness of His son (Romans 8:29). He knows what will draw us close. He knows our pain. He loves our joys. In all and through all He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

He can do all of it outside or inside, but I’ve learned that much of what His heart is after….is mine.

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If you want a good laugh or inspired teaching, wander over to Natalie’s blogs at I AM (not) and Stiletto Army.