Have You Ever Experienced an Ephesians 3:20?
I remember in college a friend told me she was praying for an Ephesians 3:20. At the time, I was not familiar with the verse and so I just went along with it and said, “that’s good!”
Later, I looked up Ephesians 3:20 in my Bible and for the first time in my life, I saw what Paul had written and I thought wow! I want this too!
So, right there in my dorm room – at the age of 19 – I prayed that God would do an Ephesians 3:20 in my life.
Now, fast forward 27 years and I can say that God has answered that prayer beyond what I could have ever asked or imagined.
Friends, in the next few months I am going to share some news with you that I never saw coming in my life. I’ll share a bit more at the end of this post but first…
Let’s take a look at Ephesians 3:20 together and see what it says. Paul writes:
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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Paul says – God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.
Let’s break Ephesians 3:20 down for a moment:
1.) Able – The word “able” here is in present tense. God is continually able!
2.) To Do – The word “do” is an action word but it is not completed yet. God is able to accomplish or do something in the future.
3.) Far More Abundantly – This triple emphasis of the words “far more abundantly” intensifies the abundance that is possible through God. God’s ability exceeds any number, measure or degree that we can humanly expect. What God can do is not ordinary – it’s extraordinary and in excess compared to what I can do on my own.
4.) Than All I Can Ask – We do not need to be afraid to pray and ask God for our deepest needs. He is able to answer far beyond what we have even asked for. So keep praying!
5.) Or Think – God can do far beyond what we can imagine or understand with our human mind. God can exceed our expectations.
6.) According to the Power – The word “power” here means the capacity of a great force. God is powerful! He controls the universe. His capacity and ability to work in our lives is beyond what we can comprehend.
7.) At Work – The word “work” here means to be effective in causing something to happen. God’s power is at work in our lives now.
8.) Within Us – Where is God’s power at work? Within us! We do not have to wait for heaven to experience this. This power is at work in our lives now.
Is God’s power at work in you or are you trying to do things on your own?
Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 17:20:
For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Do you believe?
Jesus said just a little faith – the size of a mustard seed – can move mountains!
We all have hopes and dreams and problems we wish God would turn around but sometimes we think too small or we long for things that are not God’s best. We ask God for possible things but what if God is wanting to do something impossible – beyond what you can imagine?
Believe.
I wish I could say I started this ministry with great faith knowing I’d still be doing this 13 years later but I didn’t. My life has had so many crazy twists and turns since I began blogging that I could NEVER have imagined where I’d be today.
But God knew.
God knew in 2008, when I wrote my first devotional, that by 2009 the Rachel Ray Show would stumble across my little baby blog and they would invite me and my husband onto their national television show.
That was FAR beyond what I could imagine.
God knew that in 2013, I’d publish my first book.
That was FAR beyond anything I had ever asked for.
And God knew in 2014, I’d begin the challenging task of blogging through the Bible, one chapter a day, with a plan to cover the book of Job in the winter of 2016. God went before me because I could not have picked a more appropriate book to blog through, during that time in my life.
God knew that on December 22nd, 2015, I’d suffer the most painful blow of my life, when my husband of 18 years walked out the door, leaving me for another woman.
And so then, just 16 days after my husband left, I would begin leading a study though the book of Job – about a godly man whose life fell apart. I was not ready to share at that time what was happening in my home — but it bled through every blog post I wrote that year.
Here’s the first video from that study back in January of 2016.
This video is hard for me to watch. I was sharing from my own life, while also trying to hide how deeply personal this message was to me. I smiled so big through this video – I really don’t know how I did it except to say that God carried me. Because the minute I turned the camera off, I broke down in tears sobbing.
God knew.
God has been with me through a long season of sleepless nights, 6 years of struggling as a single mom and painful moments of tears from betrayal, heartache, and fear of the future.
I feel like after a season that has felt like a long drought – God’s goodness and favor has shined on me in the most unimaginable way. Perhaps I should have imagined that I could love and trust again – but I really hadn’t planned on trying. I had embraced singleness with a heart of contentment.
But God!
God had a plan I could not see and he is literally doing an Ephesians 3:20 in my life right now and I am floored!!!!
I don’t really know how my story will end but I do know that God is not finished yet. And that something surprising and beautiful has unexpectedly come into my life. I wasn’t looking for it or even praying for it (but my mom was. Lol!).
I cannot wait to share more with you – I will soon!
But let me encourage you if you are in a “Job-like” season or a season of drought.
Keep believing.
God sees your heartache, the wrongs you have suffered, the hardships you have faced, the way you have endured with faith and all of your tears. He hears your prayers.
Ephesians 3:20 is followed by verse 21 which says:
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Here we have a doxology. A doxology is a short song of praise at the end of a prayer or song. As Paul finishes the first three chapters of Ephesians, he cannot help but to pause and simply give God glory because God can do more than we can even ask or imagine. He uses the words “exceedingly abundantly” to express that it’s beyond what the human mind can even measure or describe. And so, through all generations, may the redeemed glorify him forever and ever. Amen.
God can do more than we ask or think.
Think of all you have ever asked God for – he can do MORE than that!
Think of all that you have imagined God could do – he can do MORE than that!
Our human minds cannot imagine or comprehend all God can do and is doing in the world right now.
Our God is able!
So keep believing and trusting in Him.
Walk with the King,
Courtney
**Chime In**
Have You Experienced an Ephesians 3:20 in your life?
Please share about it in the comments below! We’d love to hear and be encouraged.
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Danke, das ist eine wunderbare Ermutigung und ich beginne zu beten!
I no longer believe in an Ephesians 3:20. I’ve been a single mom for 13 years & in these 13 years, I’ve done nothing but fast, pray & cry & cry & cry for God to help us. All I do is work jobs that make me so unhappy & unfulfilled, just so that I can pay bills & yet, things are always getting shut off or taken away. Watching my daughter grow up without a Father & cry & ask for one, is the most heartbreaking thing to see. I used to believe for an Ephesians 3:20, but it’s just not meant to be. Every time I feel closer to a blessing, God slams that door in my face so aggressively. I’m glad God blessed you after a short 6 years. I enjoy reading your posts, but this one had me drowning in my tears, because I’m not sure what me & my daughter have done in Gods eyes, for him to never bring an Ephesians 3:20 into our life. It’s been nothing but heartbreaks & tears..
Dear Mandy,
I am so sorry for the struggles you have faced. I know how hard it is to watch your children suffer and to feel like you are drowning in life. I still feel a little like I’m drowning everyday and am still a single mom trying to navigate this new season in the best way – while taking everyone’s feelings into account. This is not easy on my kids. Always remember that behind the pictures you see, there are real life struggles and battles no one sees. As I said above with that video – I smiled so big through that video and then sobbed the second I turned it off.
Yes I am praising the Lord for this Ephesians 3:20 that is happening in my life but the enemy has worked overtime in my life. There are shattered pieces everywhere that will never be put back together and I will carry that pain with me for a lifetime. None of us will be completely free of pain and heartache until we are with Jesus in heaven.
I wish I could see you face to face and hug you and tell you to keep hanging on another day. God loves you and he is with you even when you don’t feel him there. Keep believing!
It’s okay to cry but please don’t lose courage. That is right where the enemy wants you…in despair. Life is one big long fight for joy and I am in that fight with you. You are not alone.
Mandy, even if God was not doing this new thing in my life – he is still good and I would still hang onto hope and keep believing for more. I really didn’t see this coming – please don’t let what God is doing in my life – get in the way of your faith – keep believing.
You are doing amazing – look at you – after 13 years you are still standing girl! You are a survivor! Your daughter is SO blessed to have you! Who knows what God is going to do in her life – be patient. Keep believing and holding onto your faith for her sake.
If you have not studied the book of Ruth- please read it. Naomi had lost it all but through her daughter in law Ruth – God blessed her and delivered her from her heartache and her life ended much better than it started. If you have time – please watch my video series on Ruth at the bottom of this page – https://womenlivingwell.org/ruth-an-in-depth-bible-study-and-free-video-series/
We are in it together Mandy. Our puzzles might look different but the enemy is real and he wants to take us both down. Fight back with faith! Don’t give up! I’m still just hanging onto Jesus for dear life not knowing where exactly this new road is headed. No one knows what tomorrow brings but we know who holds the future and we know we are loved by the heavenly father and one day we will be with him in heaven. So peace – be still. Keep believing <3
I am praying for you today.
Much Love,
Courtney
Mandy, I’ll be praying for you today! Life is tough! I now see the tough times as opportunities to pour into others, but there have been many days I’ve just needed someone to pour into me and I seem to have nothing to give. Picture me wiping your tears and making you tea and telling you that the sun will shine again. Even a little sun day by day can mend the heart, and I know God has that healing planned for you when you rest in Him. Hugs! ~Rebecca (writingcanuck @ pm.me)
Rebecca You bring the tea I’ll bring the Kleenex and cake! Hang in there Mandy. Prayers are being answered that you can’t even imagine.
Don’t give up Mandy! Keep clingy to the Lord daily good and bad days, there is always something to be thankful for even the small things pray our father shows those things to you. What helped me is being thankful even when everything seems to be going wrong, I could list so many bigger things but I’ll just give a small example say your washing machine (no way as big as what your going though I know-just an exam) breaks instead of being upset and thinking why are all these bad things happening one on top of another think well thankfully I have running water and I can stand at a Sink and wash what need to be and dry it because I have a warm home/place to hang clothing. Some women wash laundry in dirty water that they have to walk miles to get to and some women have to wash with their feet because they have no arms. And you know what they thank God for that dirty river and the ability to wash with their feet. Thinking on those women helps me. I know days can be a hard hard struggle but please …”just keep swimming” look for the good small victories. Start writing one thing your thankful for everyday. Praying for you and your daughter ❤️??
Courtney, you are such a beautiful person and God is doing a mighty work in you. I was crying for you when I was watching your video and reading your email. Praise be to God that he does get us through our hardships . God bless you!
Dear Carol,
Thank you so much for your love and encouragement. It means so much! May God bless you too!!
Lots of Love,
Courtney <3
I’m so encouraged by this post! My rough season was close to yours, Courtney – I left an abusive marriage in February 2015 and it has been tough coming out of that. But so many great things happened as well – I’m teaching my kids at home and giving them a safe space to be their creative selves; I’m writing, and plan to get enough polished up to publish; and I’m trying all sorts of volunteer work through church to help others grow. I trust that God has more in store, whatever it is! 🙂
I came out of a horrible abusive marriage in 2005. Single mom to a nine year old daughter but had two older daughters that were already married and out of the house. I had to survive for us. After 10 years, God sent the most wonderful man into my life and we were married. He was my angel, my best friend and he treated me and my daughters like queens. He is a Godly man that loves me with all his heart and he tells me all the time he knows God put us together. Yes, he is what I had been praying for and more.
Courtney,
I’m excited to read about what God is doing in your life. I’ve followed you for some time now – I remember my heart breaking for you when you shared what happened several years ago. My Mom and I cried when we read that post! I really felt for you, having experienced betrayal myself. I’ve been praying for you since then, that you would be blessed beyond measure and that the Lord would redeem what happened and breathe new life from the ashes. I pray it’s someone special in your life – I can’t think of anyone more deserving of such! Hugs!
I am so grateful that God has been able to use you in such a bold way, your blog has always been on time for me. I am praying for Ephesians 3:20 and I can feel God moving in my life. My previous experience is almost dying in the hospital over my twins and sepsis and God speaking to me clearly and giving life. I am healed and covered. I’m in an expectant place and all I want is to delve deeper into the Lord.
I really struggle with this verse. I have prayed it so many times. It’s hard to keep believing and praying when nothing gets better just worse. My health continues to decline and I feel my life slipping away so alone and isolated. I’m not sure how much more I can take.
Praying for you, Kelly. Loneliness and isolation are deeply painful…I pray for peace in your heart and a joy that comes only from God.
Hello Kelly,
I would love to know where you are now. I just came across this post and it shows it’s from 2022. When I read your words, I remembered my situation with my husband …. He landed in jail for a year for pills addiction, and pretty much left everything on my lap. I remember wanting to give up so many times, but every time I did, God met me where I was and kept reminding me of His great love! As soon as I let go of everything my husband did and completely surrendered to God, I then started to expect from HIM and not my husband. I started to see the immeasurably more that God promises. I started to take stricture and proclaim them over my life and family. I started to believe that they are for ME!
When my husband got out, he was fully transformed and healed from his addiction. Our life was not easy after that moment, but that year of encountering Jesus has been my faith to continue and never give up!
The enemy is looking for us to give up, so one thought of that keeps me going strong because I will not allow him the satisfaction of stealing anything from me again!!!!
I don’t know if I will hear back from you, but I will also join in with praying for YOUR miracles, breakthroughs and immeasurably more!!! You are worthy of Gods blessings, they belong to you as well!!! Keep going and never give the enemy the satisfaction that he has won!!!
You Are Not Alone!!!
God is so Good!
Courtney,
I’m am praying and trusting in God on this Ephesians 3:20 in my life. I am going through a terrible divorce, from someone is a narcissist. It took me 16 years to try to “fix” someone and the last straw was physical abuse. I’m praying God will bless me with a job and a home
I am so thankful that I found this article!!