To walk by faith is to live in a constant state of expectation.
According to Ephesians 3:20 & 21, we are praying to a God that can and will be better than we can even dream, if only we would ask!
"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."
God has given us more power and authority than we often realize or operate in.
I know that I often allow what I see to cloud what I know to be true. To be honest, our faith tests our patience first and that is where a lot of us lose the battle.
Have you ever ever told a toddler to wait? They ask for a cup of water and expect it to materialize in their hand the moment the request leaves their lips. They can hear you say, “Give me a second”, watch you walk over to the pitcher, see you pouring the water in the cup and will cry the whole time until the cup is in their hand. They may even be whimpering still as they take their first few sips. As frustrating as it is to endure as the adult, can you imagine how God feels?
He is carefully preparing the things we ask for in ways we would have never predicted, but the disadvantage is that we, unlike the toddler, can’t always see the miracle forming before it happens. So we cry, we pout and sometimes we even plain ole give up. We want what we want, how we want it, when we want it and God‘s will suddenly takes a backseat to our sense of urgency. Or worst, God has been trying to align us with the better He has prepared for us, and we stubbornly refused to move in His time. The nerve of us to be upset!
Here’s the thing, hindsight may be 20/20, but it's human. God is and always will be all knowing. We have to trust that He will, even when we don’t think we see how.
We demonstrate our trust in God by living in expectation of His promise. That’s what the middle part of this scripture is calling us to: “according to the power that works in us”, is the Holy Ghost and faith God has given us to align ourselves with His purpose.
The cheat code to walking in faith is so simple yet, we are always trying to find ways around it:
We have to be obedient!
And we have to act like we're expecting what we're asking for. If we ask, and He says wait, we wait. When He's ready, when it's time for our promise to be fulfilled we have to be where He told us to wait with expectancy in our hearts. We have to be looking to Him with our hands lifted to Him waiting for Heaven to pour out its blessings. We have to be fasting and praying, because Matthew 17:21 says,
"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."
I know that it gets hard, I know that waiting is frustrating, that sometimes we feel like we're waiting too long. This is why we have to make sure that we are always praying, (Luke 18:1), that we are letting James 1: 3, 4 come alive in our lives. Remember that even while we wait for Ephesians 3:20, 21 to come to fruition, 1 John 4:4 is still at work in our lives.
God wants you to want more, but after you ask, are you expecting it? Have you prepared for the thing you've asked for?
If not, check your faith against your request.