203 The God Who Is Omnipotent

Our God is all-powerful. King David tried to describe His power in Psalm 29. He likened God’s power to a ferocious thunderstorm that splintered trees and shook the earth. Yet as incredible and fearsome as that storm was, God’s power is even greater. And all who encounter it can’t help but tremble in awe and worship.

But while most of us have no problem acknowledging the power of God, rather than marvel, we are left with questions. We hear verses like Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” and wonder, “If God is so powerful, why doesn’t He use it more?”

If He could part the sea, give sight to the blind, and feed 5000 people with a little boy’s lunch… why can’t He give a lonely single a mate? Why can’t He grant a devoted childless couple a child? Why can’t He raise the cripple out of his chair or wipe out the cancer cells in a young mother?  If God’s so powerful, why doesn’t God use His power for good things like that?

The words of A.H. Strong begin to answer that: “God can do all that He will, but He will not do all that He can.”

The release of God’s power is contingent upon His purposes.

As limited humans, we simply don’t know all that is at play in any given situation. But God does and those purposes…those plans… are for the best and one day they’ll be perfectly clear.

The release of God’s power is coupled to His love.

Parents can understand this better than most.  Children ask and plead for things that are within your power to give them, yet you don’t because you know it’s not good for them. Your love constrains your power.

So it is with God. Sometimes God doesn’t exercise His power on our behalf not because He doesn’t love us, but because He does.

The release of God’s power is available to His children.

God is willing not merely to show His power, but to share His power with His children.

The release of God’s power is accessed through our obedience.

Time and again in Scripture, we read how God’s power was released when someone took the next right step. And as they did, somewhere along the way, God’s power was manifest. The sea was parted, the leper was healed, the bread and fish were multiplied. 

We so long to see God’s power displayed right now…in this moment.  But more times than not, He asks us to walk in the direction He has told us and to trust that somewhere between here and there, in His perfect timing, His power will be shown.

Text: Jer. 32:27; Ps. 29 

Originally recorded on October 17, 2010, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN