What Is Immeasurably More?
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us”
Ephesians 3:20
Lesson #18 on a Journey to a Water Well
Somewhere between passing the potatoes and rolls at Easter dinner 2016, Tim announced we had plans for a two-to-three-day tent safari while in Uganda. “You mean you’re going to let four-year-old Henry sleep in a tent while lions roam outside? What if Ben needs to go potty?” “Oh, I’m sure we’ll have a guard.” What if he falls asleep?” My sister locked eyes with mine, furrowed her brow, and twisted her head. “What is wrong with you? I don’t care if you have to dip into the college fund. You don’t take the cheapest safari in Africa.” She finished with a simultaneous roll of the eyes to reinforce just how preposterous the suggestion was. We upgraded to a two-story concrete hut.
Uganda Day 6—Saturday, June 18
Our driver picked us up at 6:00 a.m. during our game safari. We were escorted by our ranger guide, William, a Ugandan ranger with a British name. William helped us navigate the park and find the best areas to spot animals while entertaining us with stories and charisma. We saw elephants, giraffes, hyenas and their newborn pups, and hippos in the Nile.
The safari was everything we hoped for, offering a brief respite for our Western sensibilities from the disease and desperate need we saw on most of our trip. Yet we quickly learned that well-dressed Ugandans think differently than the average American. “What are you looking for?” I asked our Uganda guide as he shined a light into the tall grass and escorted us down the path towards our villa after dinner. “Hippos,” as if that was a perfectly normal answer. Then I remembered what our safari guide told us earlier:
Hippos come up out of the river at night to eat.
They kill the most humans of any animal in Africa.
They have a fast, short sprint.
“What are you going to do if you see one?” “I’ll bang two rocks together in my hands to scare the hippo.” Two rocks to scare the hippos, I thought in disbelief. “If that doesn’t work?” “Just don’t run in a straight line. Hippos can only run in a straight line.”
Obeying God feels like God wants something from me. In the case of the hippos, maybe God wanted a little more faith. Other times, He’s asking for my time, money, energy, or pride, but always faith. A water well. Obedience requires me to think more of Him and less of me. But obedience mostly feels like less of me. Like I’m giving up something for God. And this may be true in the short term. But obeying God really means more of Him.
God uses our obedience to reveal Himself: His grandeur, intimacy, sufficiency, generosity, and goodness. It’s not as much about me giving something up as it is about God pouring something out, immeasurably more. God always does more, immeasurably more. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us .”(Ephesians 3:20)
God wasn’t asking for something more. He was offering something better. Something exceedingly abundantly more than I could ask or imagine. Kind of like a safari for our souls and spirits. He offered adventure to the monotonous. Intimacy to the lonely. Water to the thirsty. Passion to the languishing. Purpose to the aimless. And salvation to the lost.
God wasn’t asking for a water well; He was giving me Himself.
My perspective on obedience was so misguided. I thought obedience is how we give to God. But obedience is how God gives to us.
Eventually, we begin to grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is, and it’s this love that fills us to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:19) And when we are filled with the measure of the fullness of God, we say yes. We exude passion and pursue purpose. God’s passions and His purposes. And His passions and His purposes satisfy our souls.
Something changes when we experience the humility of knowing how much more loving and generous God is to us than we could ever be to him. It grows our yes.
How have you witnessed God’s love and faithfulness? Or do you need a fresh revelation of His goodness?
Instead of scripting how God should answer your prayer, pray His Word. Lord, show me immeasurably more. Let me experience your faithfulness and goodness as you teach me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Lord, get me to yes and show me Your glory.
Lesson #18 on a Journey to a Water Well
God grows our yes when we discover obedience is how God gives to us. Immeasurably more.
Want more? Start Here.
1. I’m always interested to hear how godly people pray. Read Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21.
2. Why did Paul believe it was important for us to grasp how wide and long and high and deep Christ’s love is?
3. What do you believe Paul meant by immeasurably more?
4. Have you experienced immeasurably more in your life? Was it connected to your obedience to Christ? If yes, how so?
5. How has God used your obedience to Him to offer you Himself?