My wife and I sat at our children’s school last night for “Back to School Night” and got to hear many wonderful things about where the school is and where God is leading it. Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy is currently in its fifth year of existence. During those five years, those at the school have seen how faithful God has been to them personally as well as professionally through the school. Like any other private school, there are always unique challenges that must be addressed and met head on, but when you first hear about them they can feel overwhelming and even frightening. And so as my wife and I as well as many other parents and teachers sat there and heard the challenges the school faces this year, there were the to-be-expected shocked looks on many faces. Yet out of the shock, confusion, and even worry comes Paul’s word in Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” I love that phrase “exceeding abundantly.” It literally means to the extent that we cannot express. In other words, God can do far more than we can ever think or ask for. I had this discussion with the Bible students I teach on Monday night, does the Bible teach that God will not put more on your than you can handle? Instantly many of them said “yes” as most Christians do. The verse that is often associated with that phrase is 1 Corinthians 10:13. However, that verse has been taken out of context and made to say something it doesn’t really say. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. ” This verse deals with temptation, not actual trials we are to experience. And the way out within the context of the verse and passage is that we are to depend on God. The truth of the matter is this, God will allow circumstances in our life that too difficult for us to handle alone. Only when we admit that we cannot do this or rise to meet this challenge can God step in and show Himself to be the all-powerful God that He is. When we are able to meet a challenge, unfortunately many times He does not deserve the glory that He deserves. However, when He shows up and accomplishes something that we could not accomplish, there is no one else to give the glory to but to God. One way that I think of it is this, if God did not put more on me than I could handle, why would I need Him? SMLCA, churches, other private education schools, and businesses are facing challenges today that have not been seen since the Great Depression in our country. We have tried everything we know to do and we have barely made a dent in our problems. I want to close this devotional with a popular quote. Last night the Board of Directors, faculty, students, and parents were encouraged to join us at Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy on Thursday mornings to pray. All options have been exhausted for many schools, churches, and businesses, and we should know that that is exactly where God wants us at this time because “You will not know that God is all you need, until He is all that you have” (A.W. Tozer).
Remember, God is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” If we will trust Him and depend on Him, He will show up on time and deliver us from whatever situation we are in. But we must stand ready to give Him the glory “…throughout all ages, without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:21b).
By His grace and through His strength, may we live for Him!