Zechariah 8:6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the LORD Almighty.

God is never surprised by what He does. That might seem to go without saying, but sometimes we manage to surprise ourselves by what we are able to do, or are unable to do, or even that we do. That’s because we don’t know everything about ourselves, much less our circumstances, but God is not so limited. God isn’t even limited by time itself, because as physics tells us, time depends on matter, and God created matter, but is Himself Spirit rather than matter. That’s why the Bible uses expressions like, “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8) We have a lot of trouble wrapping our heads around things like that! As a concrete example, one time when I was in seminary we faced a financial crisis of some sort, and my wife and I prayed earnestly for God’s supply. The next day there was a check in our mail that covered our need. However, the postmark on the envelope was before we had prayed! God wasn’t limited by time in answering our prayer. Our conception of God being too small is a perennial problem. In this verse God is gently chiding us to believe that He can indeed “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)

This issue is very personal for me, because I will never forget one time when I was praying with another believer and the Lord started speaking through me. He said, “Do not be amazed at what amazes others, for I am God, and I will use you for my glory.” That’s just about exactly what this verse says! We endure all sorts of needless anxiety by failing to see God as He is, absolutely omnipotent and omniscient, yet at the same time love itself. We also draw back from things He wants us to do, because we don’t grasp the last part of Ephesians 3:20: “according to His power that is at work within us.” We don’t believe God could actually use us to accomplish His works. Essentially, we feel our weaknesses are greater than God’s power! That’s the opposite of what God told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) I’ve got to remember that! That’s what faith is all about. I need to be so focused on God that my weakness doesn’t even enter the picture. God even now wants to do things through me that will amaze some, but I am not to be amazed, but rather give God the glory.

Father, thank You for what You are doing in and through me. The shift in my thinking from my time in Tohoku might seem small to some, but I think it was what You were waiting for. Help me indeed seek You totally and let You take care of everything else, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!