Stop Underestimating

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all

we could ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church.”
Ephesians 3:20-21

In a prominent location in downtown Detroit, an abandoned construction site, with the concrete pillars and floors poured but with no exterior walls built, sits as a sad display to what can happen when the costs of a project in the hundred million dollar range are grossly underestimated. The new Wayne County jail was supposed to solve the problems of the antiquated, overcrowded facilities currently being used to house prisoners but instead it had to be abandoned because of the costs far exceeding the estimates. Underestimating the proposed costs of the jail project to help ensure legislative approval turned out to be a bad strategy.

Of far less consequence was the underestimating of how much wine the guests would drink at a wedding that took place in Cana around 2,000 years ago. With the guests gathered and the festivities in full swing, the somber message, “they have no more wine” must have been a real cause for stress and concern to the embarrassed hosts. Thankfully, they had invited the only possible guest who could remedy their situation; a guest who could turn the water that was readily available into the wine desperately needed for the wedding feast to not be spoiled.

We’ve all experienced underestimating how long it will take us to get somewhere, how much time it will take to accomplish a home repair project and other areas of varying degrees of consequence. But I want to encourage you to avoid one area of underestimating that can have the most serious consequences of all: stop underestimating God! Here are a few thoughts:

• Stop underestimating what God is able to do through you!
• Stop underestimating the power of prayer to bring change and breakthrough!
• Stop underestimating the value of God’s Word to give guidance and direction! 
• Stop underestimating what the future holds for you because you only see yourself and have lost sight of the greatness of the God who created the universe.
• Stop underestimating the willingness of God to move in your life. The Jesus who reached out his hand and touched the leper, saying “I am willing,” is still the same today!

As we rightly honor God by our proper estimating of His love, His goodness, His power, and His willingness to help us, His moving in our lives is going to be clearly visible in the coming year and we will see Him at work as He completes the good work He has begun in each of our lives.

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church