Have you ever gotten your hopes up over something specific happening and it’s a big ol’ let down? You’re excited thinking “finally, this is it” then wa-wa-wahhhhh it’s a sore disappointment.
What do you do when you’re disappointed? What do you do when time and time again life just doesn’t quite work out the way you imagined? What do you do when your hopes come crashing down to a reality that doesn’t measure up?
Well, I don’t know what you do, but I know what the majority of us do … we stop getting our hopes up and we start settling. We start believing that good things just don’t happen to us. We buy into the belief that if it’s too good to be true then it’s not for you anyway. And somewhere along the way we become disenchanted with God’s care over our details. We begin expecting the other shoe to drop at any moment. We begin looking around every corner for what could go wrong.
And let me just be blunt with you … that’s NOT God’s doing.
God didn’t create you to be a pessimistic downer. He did however create you to NEED HIM. He did create you with weaknesses that are made perfect in his power.
Where have you been disappointed and therefore began settling? Where have you been lowering your standards all because it’s too exhausting to demand better?
The enemy works in disappointment. He weasels his way into your let downs and whispers his lies. He tells you this is all there is. He tells you it will never get better for you. He tells you this is a result of your wrongdoing, you’re being punished. He tells you God is too busy to be burdened with your cares. So you carry a little more weight on your shoulders and hang your head a little lower. Don’t you see how this renders you ineffective? Don’t you see how this is a work of the enemy to derail you from the BIG and powerful life you’re supposed to be living?
All the while God has THE BEST in the works for you. Nothing can stop God from working. Nothing is impossible for him. And it’s not a NO until God says it’s a no. When you serve a mountain moving, chain breaking, sea parting, life saving, God like our God, then girl you better prepare yourself for things you have not seen yet!
Ephesians 3:20 says “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…”
Oh yes, whatever your biggest request and grandest thought is, God can blow it out of the water with SO MUCH MORE. He is willing and able to do exceedingly more (meaning to the extreme level, totally and completely lacking no detail) and he is able to do abundantly more (meaning big time not just once, but again and again). And it’s all for you. What God is offering you today is on the extreme level and it’s not a one time deal. God wants to blow your mind with his provision. He wants to amaze you with his works. He wants to leave you in awe with how he works in the details.
BUT HE WON’T FORCE IT ON YOU.
If your answer is always no, then you miss out. If you’re too scared to step out of the boat, then sister you never get the opportunity to walk on water with him. If you automatically dismiss every opportunity as not for you, or a future let down in the making, then you will spend the days of your life living less than you could, experiencing less than is available to you … and I know this … you will regret that.
The enemy has been working in your disappointment to make you believe this is all there is for you. But the devil is a liar and you gotta stop believing him.
If God is telling you he can do exceedingly and abundantly more than you ever asked or imagined FOR YOU PERSONALLY, then your response should be BRING IT ON! My eyes are open and I’m expecting it God. I’m expecting your best work and best plans for my life. I’m buying into it. I’m sold out for you. Bring it on, I’m ready. My answer is yes Lord.
I’ve been let down. The details haven’t quite worked in my favor. Now I have a choice … sit here and be disappointed or stand up and say, “my God isn’t finished here!” I will trust in him. I will get my hopes up and keep my hopes up. I will expect for all things to work together for good, and even when I don’t see the good, I will IMAGINE THE GOOD COMING. And I’m willing to get my hands dirty to be part of the good works!
Hebrews 12:2 tells me to fix my eyes on Jesus. That means I should watch him closely. I will EXPECT for him to show up and work in my life. I will anticipate his goodness. I will count on it.
Don’t give up on what he wants to do in your life and for your life. Don’t allow the setbacks and disappointments to steal your zest and excitement for life. When doors close it’s only to get you to walk further down the hall to the right door. Or perhaps the door closed because God’s behind that closed doors working up something that’s going to blow your mind and he’s going to fling it open in just the right time. It’s not because God is against you, quite the opposite, he is FOR YOU. And remember, if God is for you, who can be against you? Who can stand in your way? Who can stop what God is doing in your life? No one and no thing.
God wants to know if you’re ready for him to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you could ask or imagine. Let your answer be “BRING IT ON!”
