Most of us interact with people every day. At home, on the job, and in the public square. As we do so, it’s easy to become cynical because of all the shortcomings we see in those around us. And we can become discouraged because of the failures we see in ourselves. But the real tragedy is when we take what we see in people and apply them to the way we view God. 

But, it comes so naturally for us. We were born in corruption and were marinating in it our whole lives before Jesus found us. Even after He finds us, we spend our lives being delivered and saved from the corruption we were steeped in. With all these things considered it’s no wonder we look at God sometimes through darkened lenses—casting on His character the things we see around us so abundantly. 

God Has Done No Wrong

And natural though it is, it is still very tragic. God is the one Being who has never done anything wrong or unjust. He is the very essence of love, holiness, wisdom and beauty. In His presence is fullness of joy. There are pleasures at His right hand forevermore. In Him is eternal life. And He’s willing to share all these things and so much more with a bunch of rebels who instinctively hate Him and work against Him.

He is generous beyond anything we can imagine. We don’t always see how generous He is because we don’t see how much we owe. We’re blind to our own iniquity. Also, we see stingy people around us and if our minds aren’t renewed, we may assume God is that way, too. But Ephesians 3:20-21says this:

More Than We Ask Or Think

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – ESV 

Instead of marinating in our corruption, let’s marinate in the Spirit of God and the Word of God. This is how we renew our minds and get an accurate view of Him. Verses such as the one above are such a powerful reminder of the greatness and the generosity of the God we serve. He is able to do way more than we ask or think and it’s according to the power at work in us! Not just the power He has on His own sitting on His throne in heaven aloof from us. It’s already at work in us if we have laid down our arms, surrendered to Him and made Him Lord of our lives. 

Conclusion

So, never mind our perceptions or the way we might feel at any given moment. The work God is doing in us will be brought to completion when Jesus returns—as promised in Philippians. But in the mean-time He is already working ahead of time doing many things we don’t see. Doing far more abundantly than all that we ask or think!