He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
(Genesis 15:5 NIV)
“I love the story of Abraham looking at the stars and the number of children that God promised to give him,” read the message from a friend. “Yes, God exceeded his expectations!” I replied.
All Abraham wanted was a son, yet God gave him more than what he had asked for. And then there was Solomon. He only asked for wisdom and God gave him the other things he hadn’t asked for (1 Kings 3:13). I remember how much my sister-in-law wanted to become a mother, and God gave her twins. I only wanted to write one book and He led me to write two. I could go on and on…
I don’t know what it is that you’re asking God for. All I know is that He hasn’t changed. He is still “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). Has it ever occurred to you that God wants to exceed your expectations? Only then will He get all the glory, “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (v. 21).
Rising with the Son 