Is Your God Too Small?

Nancy Kennedy is a writer for our local newspaper the Citrus County Chronicle. In a her weekly column “Grace Notes,” she recently recounted the story of lady who each year had a personal theme to live by.

One year was “The Year of Overcoming.” Another was “The Year of Trusting.” Nancy relates the theme which caught her eye was the one “Your God is too Small.”

Now the lady was a Believer in God. She knew He is all powerful. The Creator. The Sustainer. And able to do anything. Yet, she admitted there were times in her life when she made God small by not believing He cared enough about her problems, or failed to trust in Him when life was tough. The theme was her reminder that our God is a big God.

The story reminded me of a wonderful passage penned by Paul in Ephesians 3:20-21.

“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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Consider three important facts from this passage.

(1) God is Able.

Regardless of what adversity you may face, what challenges you may encounter, or what hardships you may have to overcome, God is able.

• He is able to hear your cry.
• He is able to know your needs.
• He is able to help
• He is able to answer.
• He is able to provide.
• He is able to comfort.
• He is able to lift you up.
• He is able to offer grace in time of need, just when you need it.

Don’t make God too small, He is able.

(2) God is Able to Powerfully Provide For You.

The superlatives Paul uses as rendered by the New King James version is “exceedingly abundantly above.” In Greek it is huper…. huperekperissoú, which means “to pour out beyond measure, to overflow.”

In his Ephesians commentary, Colly Caldwell reminds us, “There is no limit to the ability of God. His power is exhaustless. That provides a great a reason for glorifying God…God can do much more than is necessary and then go beyond that.”

God is able to flood us with blessings. To overflow us with grace. To immeasurably pour out His mercy. And to love us beyond measure.

Don’t make God too small, He is all powerful.

(3) You Can’t Think too Big, or Ask too Much.

What do you want to accomplish in life? What do you desire to do for the Lord? What do you hope for? Dream about? What are your needs? Desires? And heart’s longing?

You can’t think too big for God. He can give you more than you could ever imagine. Because His power works within us. “The power of God to salvation” is also the power to provide immeasurable provisions. The power to overcome infirmities. The power to resist temptation. The power to defeat the devil. The power to minister our God-given gifts. The power to secure spiritual strength. God is able.

Don’t make God too small, He can do more than you imagine or ask.

There’s a great story about the championship golfer, Arnold Palmer that occurred during his heyday. Palmer once played a series of exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia. The King was so impressed with Palmer as a person and an athlete than he proposed to give him a gift.

“That really isn’t necessary, Your Highness.” Arnold demurred. “I’m honored to have been invited.”

“I would be deeply upset, replied the King, “if you wouldn’t allow me to give you a gift.”

Palmer thought for a moment and said, “All right. How about a golf club? That would be a wonderful memento of my visit to your country.”

The next day, delivered to Palmer’s hotel, was the title to a golf club (not one you played with, but one you play on)! It was a golf course of over a thousand acres of trees, lakes, and a beautiful clubhouse.

The moral of the story? When you’re in the presence of the King, think big. Don’t ask for small stuff.

Don’t make your God too small.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman