I was recently in the book of Ephesians, reading Chapter 3, verse 20. It’s a passage that might be familiar to some of us. But certainly the second part of it is what stood out to me as something I have maybe not considered fully before. Here’s what it says: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us.”
I have found myself a lot of times in life quoting that scripture. We’re trusting Jesus who is able to do more than we can ask or think, which is such a beautiful, amazing promise and absolutely true. That is who Jesus is. He wants to do more than we can ask or think. But I had never found or seen the connection to the second part of that verse. That he’s able to do more abundantly than all we ask or think according to the power at work within us.
As I read that, I felt like Jesus was revealing through His word that the power at work around my life is proportionate to the power at work within my life. Sometimes I can get caught up thinking, “Man, I really want to see all this stuff out there, I want to see great stuff out there.” And I really do! But I don’t realize that there is this relationship, Jesus connecting my willingness to let Him work inside me to what then happens outside of me. Sometimes I want to skip that part. I want to see the great stuff out there, but I’m not always saying “Jesus, would You come in here and do this work? Would You point to the places in me? Would I open up my life to You in a new way? Would I trust You to work within me in a more powerful way?” It’s talking to this connection of those two things. It’s because of that opening up and allowing Jesus to work within me that then whatever I ask or think out there can happen.
So my encouragement to you, if you find yourself in that place that some of us can be from time to time, which is “Jesus, why aren't You doing more? Why don’t I see the ‘more than I can ask or think’ happening out there?" Maybe he’s wanting to speak to our hearts and say, “Would you let Me in here? Would you invite Me to work within you? Because if you let Me work within you, I will do amazing things outside of you."
Praying for God to do both great things in you and through you today.
About the Author
Aaron Sutherland
Pastor Aaron met his wife Pastor Paula in college, and they have been growing in love together for 25 years ever since.
Aaron earned a bachelor’s degree from New Hope Christian College and went on to complete a Master’s degree in Formational Leadership from Capital Seminary. He is a licensed pastor with Open Bible Churches.
Along with their two sons Ethan and Isaac, the Sutherlands have continually experienced the great adventure of following Jesus. From 1995 to 2004, the Sutherlands ministered as youth pastors for two vibrant churches. In 2005, God called them to plant Desert Song Community Church, in Redmond, Oregon. It was in those years that they discovered the excitement of watching God start a church from nothing. The Sutherlands have had a heart for church planting ever since, as they serve with organizations that further church planting around the world. In the fall of 2012, Aaron and Paula moved to Eugene, Oregon to plant Cove Church.
Aaron loves to spend days with a fly rod in his hand and a fish on the line. There are no bad days on the river.
