Endless Energy, Boundless Strength

Reflection on Ephesians 1:19–23 (The Message)

This beautiful and expansive passage from The Message rendering of Ephesians lifts our eyes and hearts to see the true magnitude of what God has done through Jesus Christ—not just for the world, but within us who trust Him.

Paul begins with gratitude—overflowing gratitude—for the faith and love he sees in the lives of believers. But his thankfulness leads to a deeper longing: that we wouldn’t just believe, but that we would see. That the “eyes of our heart” would be opened. That we would come to know God personally, intimately—no longer dimly, but clearly. Not just intellectually, but experientially.

What does Paul pray we would see?

• The hope to which we are called.
  
  
• The glory of the life we have inherited in Christ.
  
  
• The power that is working within us—endless energy, boundless strength!
  
  

This power is not abstract. It is the very power that raised Christ from the dead. It is resurrection power—alive in us. And not only is Christ alive, He is enthroned: “in charge of running the universe.” No authority is beyond Him. No situation is outside His rule. No future is uncertain when placed in His hands.

But perhaps the most stunning line in this passage is this: “The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church.”

In a culture that often sidelines the church, this is a radical re-centering. Christ rules the church, and the church is His very body—His presence in the world. We, as His people, are the instrument by which He fills everything with His presence. This is both a profound comfort and a sobering calling.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. Help me see the vast hope, the glorious inheritance, and the boundless strength You have made available to me through Your resurrection and rule. May I never forget that You are at the center—not the world, not powers, not circumstances—but You. And may Your church reflect Your love, power, and presence to a world that so desperately needs You. Amen.

The Eternal Power of Words

What You Say Matters—Forever

Speak Boldly: The Language of Love and Truth

“Heaven and earth will pass away,

 but my words will never pass away.” 

 Luke 21:33 (NIV)

Words matter. More than we often realize, they shape destinies, build lives, and leave legacies. From Martin Luther King Jr.’s stirring calls for justice to the tender reassurances of a friend, words can change the course of human hearts. But no words are more powerful—or more eternal—than the words of Jesus.

The Bible is clear: Words have eternal significance.

Jesus tells us that even when the world fades away, His words will remain (Luke 21:33). These are not mere syllables or soundwaves; they are life (John 6:63), light (Psalm 119:105), and truth (John 17:17). God’s Word doesn’t just inform—it transforms. It brings strength to the weary (Isaiah 40:29), peace to the anxious (Philippians 4:6–7), and direction to the lost (Proverbs 3:5–6).

When our words align with His, we become vessels of hope, healing, and truth.

Proverbs 10:11 says, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” Words of love, encouragement, and wisdom are not only healing to others, but also reflective of God’s nature within us.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” His voice was not only prophetic but deeply pastoral—calling people to speak up, not with hatred, but with redemptive power. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

In Joshua 1:9, God calls us to “be strong and courageous,” promising His presence wherever we go. These words, given to Joshua, still empower us today. As we carry God’s promises in our hearts and speak them with faith, we become bearers of His truth in a fragile world.

C.S. Lewis put it beautifully: “Don’t shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.” When we speak words aligned with God’s truth, our lives shine with His light.

King believed in that too. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” When our speech is guided by faith, our words move mountains—not because of our own strength, but because of the One who speaks through us.

Let us be people whose speech is seasoned with grace (Colossians 4:6), whose tongues bring life, not death (Proverbs 18:21), and whose hearts reflect the eternal Word that never fades.

Prayer:

Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You. Teach me to speak truth in love, to give hope through encouragement, and to reflect Your eternal Word in every conversation. May my words be filled with grace and courage, pointing always to You. Amen.

The Everlasting Arms

When shadows fall and strength is gone,

When nights are deep and days are long,

There waits a grace both strong and kind—

The arms of God, where rest I find.

Not far above, beyond the skies,

Nor hidden deep where sorrow lies,

But underneath my faltering feet,

His everlasting arms I meet.

When dreams collapse and courage fades,

When prayers are lost in silent shades,

He lifts, He holds, He will not fail—

His mercy writes a deeper tale.

No burden falls beyond His care,

No fall too steep, no weight too rare.

He carried saints through desert lands,

And holds the world in nail-scarred hands.

Though riches pass and kingdoms cease,

His refuge brings a lasting peace.

In every age, through joy and harm,

We rest within His mighty arm.

So fear not death, nor darkened skies,

The Risen One has made us wise.

We fall, but not into despair—

His everlasting arms are there.

The Everlasting Arms

“The eternal God is your refuge, 

and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

 Deuteronomy 33:27

There is a tenderness and strength in this verse that comforts the weary soul. In the final words of blessing before his death, Moses speaks of the eternal God not as a distant deity, but as a refuge—a shelter for the vulnerable—and as arms that hold us from beneath when we fall. What a beautiful image: not only is God above us in majesty, but beneath us in mercy.

1. The Eternal Refuge

The word refuge implies a place of safety in the midst of danger. Psalm 46:1 echoes this truth: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Life can shake us with uncertainty, pain, and grief, but the eternal God remains unshaken. He is not a temporary shelter but an everlasting sanctuary.

Charles Spurgeon writes, “The eternal God is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble… Underneath us, He puts the arms of power, love, and faithfulness.” The arms of God never tire. They are not like human hands that grow weary. They are everlasting.

2. Underneath, Not Just Above

We often think of God above us—watching, judging, blessing. But this verse invites us to see Him underneath—catching us when we fall, lifting us when we cannot rise. Isaiah 46:4 reminds us: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you.”

Henri Nouwen once reflected that “the arms of God are not arms of demand, but arms of embrace.” In seasons of weakness, failure, or fear, we do not fall into the abyss; we fall into the arms of God.

3. A God Who Carries

This picture of God carrying His people runs through Scripture. In Exodus 19:4, God says, “I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” In Isaiah 40:11, “He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” And in the Gospels, we see Jesus—the visible image of the invisible God—lifting the broken, embracing the outcast, and welcoming the weary.

Dallas Willard once said, “The gospel is not just about getting into heaven when we die, but about having God’s life in us now.” That life is sustained by His arms—always underneath, always holding.

Conclusion

When all else crumbles—health, finances, relationships—this promise stands: The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. These are the arms that held Moses, that raised Christ from the dead, and that now hold you.

Prayer

Eternal God, when I am weak, may I fall into Your everlasting arms. Be my refuge in every storm and the strength beneath my every step. Amen

In His will is our peace

Dante’s simple yet profound line from The Divine Comedy, “In His will is our peace,” (Paradiso, Canto III, line 85), captures the essence of spiritual surrender and divine alignment. It is spoken by Piccarda Donati, a soul dwelling in the lowest sphere of Paradise—not due to punishment, but because she failed to fulfill her holy vow. Yet there is no complaint, no resentment. Her joy is complete. Why? Because she is fully in harmony with the will of God.

1. Peace in Surrender

Our modern world tells us that peace comes from control—of circumstances, outcomes, even people. But Dante turns this on its head. Peace, he says, is not found in striving but in surrendering to God’s will. True rest comes not from bending the world to fit our desires, but from bending our will to match His. “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42) was the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane—and it remains the prayer of every soul seeking lasting peace.

2. The Will of a Loving Father

To trust God’s will is to trust the heart behind it. His will is not random or harsh—it is the will of a loving Father. Romans 12:2 tells us His will is “good, pleasing, and perfect.” When we believe that, even life’s sorrows can be enfolded into a deeper peace. As Thomas à Kempis wrote, “The man who is not yet wholly dead to self is soon tempted and overcome in trifling and small matters.”

3. A Soul in Tune

When we pray as Jesus taught—“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)—we echo the harmony of Paradise. In Dante’s vision, those in heaven do not long for more; their joy is in being exactly where God placed them, for they have become fully attuned to His desire. That is the secret of eternal peace: not just being with God, but wanting what He wants.

Reflection:

To say “In His will is our peace” is not resignation—it is release. It is the freedom of a soul no longer enslaved to fear or striving, but resting in the arms of the Eternal.

As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”

And in His will, they finally do.

The Longing for Heaven

A Hope That Does Not Disappoint

But our citizenship is in heaven. 

And we eagerly await a Savior from there,

 the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

There is a deep longing in every human heart—a desire for something beyond this world. We chase success, relationships, experiences, and achievements, hoping they will fill the void. Yet, no matter how much we attain, something always seems to be missing. This longing is not a flaw; it is a signpost pointing us home. C.S. Lewis captures this truth beautifully:

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” — Mere Christianity

The Christian Hope: Anchored in Eternity

Unlike fleeting worldly hopes, Christian hope is firm and unshakable because it rests in Christ. The Bible describes this hope as an anchor:

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” — Hebrews 6:19-20

This is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation. Hope in Christ sustains us through trials, knowing that what is ahead is far greater than what we leave behind (Romans 8:18).

The Traps of Earthly Satisfaction

The world offers substitutes for our longing, but they always fall short. As Augustine wrote:

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” — Confessions

There are two common ways people respond to this inner restlessness:

1. The Fool’s Way – Continually seeking new pleasures, possessions, or relationships, thinking the next thing will finally bring fulfillment. This leads to a cycle of disappointment (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

2. The Disillusioned Sensible Man – Suppressing his desires, convincing himself that meaning is found in comfort and routine. But Jesus warns:

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” — Mark 8:36

Both paths lead to emptiness. Only by seeking God do we find true satisfaction.

Living with Our Eyes on Eternity

The great thinkers of history recognized that true wisdom is living in light of eternity. Plato, though not a Christian, intuited this when he wrote:

“We must take care of our soul, not just our body, for our soul is eternal.”

Similarly, Blaise Pascal observed:

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person, which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

Paul calls us to “set our minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). This does not mean neglecting life’s responsibilities, but rather living with a heavenly perspective—seeking first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).

A Final Encouragement

Hope in Christ transforms our present life. It gives us strength in trials, purpose in work, and peace in uncertainty. When we make heaven our aim, we live with joy and boldness, knowing that one day, we will be fully home. As Dante beautifully wrote in The Divine Comedy:

“In His will is our peace.”

 Prayer

Father, remind us that we were made for You. Keep our hearts from being satisfied with lesser things, and let our hope rest fully in Christ. Help us to live with eternity in mind, serving You faithfully here while longing for the day we see You face to face. Amen.