I write about Stuff

Ephesians 3:20 reminds us of something astonishing: God is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we could ever ask or even imagine. It’s a verse that invites us to rethink how we see God—His heart, His intentions, and His generosity toward His children.

As a parent, you learn over the years that you often see the bigger picture more clearly than your children do. You know what will last, what will help them grow, and what will truly bring joy rather than a momentary thrill. And as they grow older, they begin to realise that your choices were often wiser than their own. They learn to trust your judgement, not because you always got everything right, but because they knew you loved them and wanted the best for them.

Paul points us to a similar truth about our heavenly Father—but with one crucial difference. God’s generosity is perfect because God Himself is perfect. He isn’t limited by resources or energy. He isn’t swayed by moods or impulses. He doesn’t have to guess what might be meaningful or right for us. He knows us completely—our needs, our weaknesses, our longings, our fears. Psalm 139 reminds us that He knows our thoughts before we think them and our words before we speak them. He understands us better than we understand ourselves.

Yet we often struggle to trust His generosity. Misconceptions creep in and distort our view of God. We fall for the lie that He is somehow holding out on us, that He is a cosmic killjoy waiting to take away anything that brings delight. And at the same time, we are easily dazzled by things that sparkle for a moment but have no lasting depth—opportunities that promise excitement but leave us empty. Like children content with something small, we settle for far less than what God desires to give.

Our enemy knows this. He knows our tendencies and weaknesses, and he exploits them. Look at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. The devil appealed to immediate needs, to power, to recognition. He wanted Jesus to settle for something less than the glorious plan of God to redeem the world. And he does the same with us—urging us to choose the quick fix over the deeper fulfilment, the temporary thrill over the eternal good.

This is why Scripture calls us to grow in maturity. A mature faith recognises God’s generosity and responds with gratitude rather than suspicion. It understands that even though we have done nothing to earn God’s favour, He delights to give what is ultimately best for us. James 1:17 reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who does not change like shifting shadows.

When we trust God’s heart, we stop clinging to our own small plans and begin to open our hands to His far greater ones.

What about you

Where have you seen God’s generosity in your life, and how might He be inviting you to trust His goodness in a deeper way today?