Verse of the Day for July 9, 2026
Ephesians 3:20-21
Able Beyond All We Ask
“Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
The Word Before Us
There are moments when our prayers feel too small for the weight we are carrying. We may not know what to ask, how to hope, or how to imagine a way forward. Ephesians 3:20-21 lifts our eyes from the limits of our understanding to the abundance of God’s power and glory.
Paul does not point us toward our own strength, imagination, or spiritual confidence. He points us toward the God who is able. The Lord is not limited by the narrowness of our vision, the weariness of our prayers, or the weakness of our faith. He is able to do more than we ask, more than we think, and more than we can measure. His work is not only around us, but within us, through the power that he gives to his people in Christ.
Understanding the Context
Paul is writing to the believers in Ephesus, closing a prayer that rises into praise. Earlier in the chapter, Paul has been praying that the believers would be strengthened with power through God’s Spirit in the inner person, that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, and that they would be rooted and grounded in love. He prays that they may comprehend, together with all the saints, the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love, and that they may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:20-21 forms the doxology at the end of that prayer.
That prayer is already large, but Paul ends by saying that God is able to do even more. The doxology is not a sudden change of subject. It is the natural overflow of worship from a heart that has been contemplating the grace of God in Christ. Paul has spoken of salvation, reconciliation, the mystery of the gospel, the unity of Jews and Gentiles in one body, and the immeasurable love of Christ. Now he gives glory to the One whose power is greater than human prayer or understanding.
The words “according to the power that works in us” are important. God’s power is not presented only as something distant, reserved for dramatic moments or outward signs. It is the strengthening power of the Spirit at work within believers. It sustains faith, deepens love, forms endurance, and enables the church to live as the body of Christ. The result is not self-exaltation, but worship: “to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.”
Living the Verse Today
Ephesians 3:20-21 speaks tenderly to daily Christian life because it meets us at the place where our prayers often become uncertain. We may know what we want, but not what is best. We may know what hurts, but not how healing will come. We may see what is broken, but not how it can be restored. Paul reminds us that God’s ability is not confined to what we can ask or imagine.
This does not mean that God always answers in the way we expect. Sometimes his abundance comes through strength to endure rather than immediate removal of the burden. Sometimes it comes through peace in the waiting, courage in weakness, forgiveness after failure, or hope that survives grief. God’s “exceedingly abundantly” is not always measured by ease. It is measured by his wisdom, love, faithfulness, and power working toward his glory and our formation in Christ.
For those walking through sorrow, this verse offers quiet hope. Grief can make the future feel small. It can make prayer feel difficult. It can reduce our words to sighs and tears. Yet God is not limited by the size of our prayers. When we cannot imagine joy returning, he is able. When we cannot see how faith will endure, he is able. When we cannot picture life beyond the present ache, he is still at work.
For those who are weary, this passage reminds us that the Christian life is not sustained by willpower alone. The power of God works in us. It strengthens the inner person. It roots us in love. It teaches us to trust Christ more deeply. It enables us to keep walking when we do not feel strong. Faith does not require us to pretend that we are sufficient. It invites us to depend on the God who is.
This verse also shapes the way we pray. We can bring God honest prayers without trying to make them impressive. We can ask boldly, while surrendering humbly. We can trust that the Lord sees beyond our limited understanding and knows how to answer in ways that serve his glory and our good. Prayer becomes less about controlling outcomes and more about entrusting ourselves to the One who is able.
Paul ends with glory, not self-focus. The power of God at work in us is meant to lead to praise in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations. Our lives, our healing, our endurance, our hope, and even our unanswered questions can become part of a larger testimony: God is able, Christ is faithful, and his glory endures forever.
Reflection
Where do I need to trust God beyond the limits of what I can ask, imagine, understand, or see today?
If you have been enjoying my Scripture study, The Word Before Us, I’m grateful to share that my devotional book, The Word Before Us, is now available on Amazon:
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This two-volume collection of Verse of the Day reflections is written to help readers slow down, listen carefully to Scripture, and begin each day rooted in the grace, hope, and wisdom of Christ.
The Bible texts are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is a Public Domain Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Holy Bible, first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. It is in draft form and is currently being edited for accuracy and readability. Verse of the Day is a daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse, extracted from BibleGateway.com. Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM. All rights reserved.
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