Faith Connection: Able

Welcome back to Faith Connections Friday!  Thank you for joining me as we admire God’s amazing attributes and how we can apply them to our lives.

The paycheck is already gone, and you are short on funds for the next bill.  Surprisingly, someone sends you a check for the exact amount you need.  God is able.  Physically and mentally, you are exhausted and desperately need a break because of life situations.  Your manager unexpectedly tells you to take an extra day off.  God is able.  One more month in your lease, and you do not know where to move.  You drive by the perfect place and find out it is available and will be ready at the time you need it.  God is able.  Your only car needs repairs you cannot afford.  A friend lets you borrow his second car until it is fixed.  God is able.

How about the more challenging?  A doctor gives you a disturbing report you did not expect.  Before the surgery, he takes another look–it’s gone!  God is able.  There is a crisis in a relationship, and you cannot understand how you can you could possibly be in the same room with the person.  The next week, there you are; and you are unbothered and at peace.  God is able.  An ongoing struggle seems so overwhelming that you do not know if you will ever be free.  One step at a time, you are getting stronger and learning how to deal with it.  God is able.  Someone has deeply betrayed you, and it you find it hard to forgive.  Each day, you choose to forgive and bless them.  God is able.

Do these situations sound familiar?  Maybe you have experienced one personally, or there may be another.  But they are real testimonies.  They do happen.  Why?  Because God is ABLE.  The instances mentioned may seem a little unbelievable.  How can this be?  How could such a situation turn out so amazing?  It does not seem possible in the most challenging of situations.  Some may think these results are just luck, coincidence, or fate.

The first part of the verse says that [God] “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think.”  First, He is the One who is able.  Not me.  Not luck, coincidence, or fate.  And He does it not just enough, not a little bit.  More.  And more than that.  Exceedingly. Exceedingly Abundantly. Exceedingly Abundantly Above.

The rest of the verse says, “according to the power that works in us.”  He is Almighty God.  He is able to … provide, heal, restore, forgive, revive … and so much more.  His thoughts are not our thoughts, and our ways are not His ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  He is, after all, the Creator of the universe and every aspect of creation, all that surrounds us.  You and me.  He spoke, and the world came into being.  He can raise the dead (literally).  He is personal.  The hopes and dreams He gave you years ago that may have died–yes, He can revive them and give greater hopes and dreams.  The verse goes on to say that the power works in us–He dwells in us.  How?  Because God loves you and me–and He is able.

He is Above and Beyond Life’s Expectations.  We expect life to go one way, and He has a better plan and directs us another.  Admittedly, there will be times we will not understand.  Life may not turn out the way we expect.  This does not mean health, wealth, and prosperity.  When we do not understand, we can rest knowing that He is able, and He knows what is best.  Whatever the situation, we can trust Him.  He will never leave us nor forsake us–we are never alone.  He sees the other end, the outcome.  We can trust He knows and does what is best for us.  Yes, He has the power, and He is able.

Our Faith challenge for the week:  Each day take a moment and notice what may have occurred that was above and beyond your expectation.  Something small.  Something huge.  An unexpected blessing.  May I ask you to consider that God may have done this for you?  He is able to exceed our expectations, above and beyond, even in the difficult situations.

Be blessed, my friend.