Prayer for Immeasurably More

Ephesians 3:14-21

I remember the day Darla Petty died. She was my pastor’s wife when we lived in Colorado Springs. Dear Darla, that’s what I called her. Faithful. Funny. Smart. Talented as a church pianist. Hard working—she had to be as a pastor’s wife. How brief this life is, I thought as I read the news of her passing. How fast things change. Her daughter, Emily kept all of us old friends updated with her hopeful posts through a month-long health ordeal. But those last days sounded less optimistic. I sensed the end was near, even though we prayed for healing. Emily’s post that day said, “She’s home. She’s home. ❤️ she is with Jesus, and we rejoice~”

Because of her faith in Jesus Christ, dear Darla is Home! We may rejoice. Though we asked the Lord for a return to health, Darla received the ultimate healing. She’s with her Savior Jesus Christ; her pain is gone. The family left behind suffers, but not as those who have no hope. We wanted Darla with us longer. It wasn’t the Father’s will. That didn’t stop us from praying, though. And we still trust in God, despite the outcome. Why? Because Christ dwells in our hearts through faith, Ephesians 3, verse 17. We know no matter what that Christ’s love is deep, wide, long, and high. God wants us to know His love surpasses knowledge. He calls us to be filled with His fullness. We are consoled by such amazing love.

This powerful prayer by the Apostle Paul directs us to look up, to consider the God we’re appealing to. Paul prays for us who believe to be rooted in God’s power and love. He wants us to grasp Christ’s love and be filled with it. Verse 20 says “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”  Be assured He is working. Let’s pray and watch for immeasurably more.