“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, […]”

(Ephesians 3:20)

This is one of my favourite bible verses, one that I find especially comforting whenever I feel discouraged over unanswered prayers and unresolved problems in my life.

It reminds me that even when my circumstances appear to be a dead end, God can do much more than I expect and turn things around in ways I cannot imagine. As I anticipate God surprising me in my darkest valley, my hope is reignited; and indeed, in retrospect, I can recount many past seasons in my life where God has turned my valleys around in ways that exceeded my prayer requests and expectations.

How about you – in your own life, how has God done exceedingly, abundantly, above all that you asked or imagined? Can you recall times in your life when God did much more than what you prayed for or expected?

Perhaps right now, you are in your darkest valley, and it is hard to recall or see such moments in your life. Let us look to the Bible then 😊 – here are some things that God has already done for us, that are exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think:

• 🌏 Choosing us before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4)

• 🩷 Reached out to us with His love and salvation, even while we were still sinners who did not acknowledge Him (Eph 2:4-5; Rom 5:8)

• 👐🏻 Including ALL of us, the whole human race, in His salvation, and not just the Jewish race (Eph 3:6; Gal 3:28)

• 👑 For us who have accepted His salvation, we have now been given a place in heaven, as confirmed by the Holy Spirit whom we have received (Eph 1:13-14; 2:6)

God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; how shall He not also freely give us all things (Rom 8:32)? How shall He not also carry you safely through your darkest valley, until you reach your heavenly home?

Therefore, let us pray for God to encourage our hearts through the Holy Spirit, so that we always see His abidance through eyes of faith (Eph 3:16-17). May our love for God grow in its roots and steadfastness, as we come to know the full extent of God’s love for us (Eph 3:17-19).

To know the fullness of His love, and be filled with all the fullness of God, i.e. be fully good like Him (Mt 5:48) – this is our homework of a lifetime 🍼⚰️.