I stood at the edge of the precipice, afraid to look down. Stepping as far as I dared, my knees trembled, and my heart palpitated wildly. I was here by choice, knowing that remaining in safety wouldn’t do.
Before me lay the proof of the waters I’d heard. Tumbling freight train loud and hurricane strong, the falls poured straight down from an unknown source above. Although mist pelted my face and drenched my clothes, I remained upright, facing the outpouring I’d dreamed of.
Fearful yet courageous, I stretched my arm toward the cascade. I’d come on behalf of a sick child, knowing that a drink from this flow would heal him. Holding out the container in my hand, I was shocked to see I’d brought only a dainty teacup. While the roar of abundance rushed past me, I wasn’t prepared to harness more than a few drops.
And there, the vision ended.
“Oh, Father,
“How often I have asked You to rend the heavens and come down that the mountains might quake at Your Presence (Isaiah 64:1). When You answer that prayer, will I be ready? Will I be prepared with the largest empty vessel I can find? Or, like my vision, will my expectation underestimate Your extravagance?
“I’m reminded of the widow in Elisha’s day, whose abundance depended upon emptiness. “Go borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. And you shall do in and shut the door behind you and your son, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full” (2 Kings 4:3). The larger the receptacle, the greater her store.
“My resources lie exhausted and wanting. Even my ability to form words into prayer stands depleted. But thank You, Father, that the provision of Your stream is full of water (Psalm 65:9). In You, there is a fullness that exceeds all we can even think to ask (Ephesians 3:19-20). You are more than ready to overwhelm me with every form of grace so that I will have more than enough of everything — every moment and in every way (2 Corinthians 9:8 Passion).
“Give me eyes to see the vastness of Your deluge. Your capacity finds room in my deficiency (2 Corinthians 10:9). May I not merely take a container to the Niagara of Your cascading power. Instead, I ask that You enlarge me to form the expansive lake into which You spill freely. Only from this emptiness can I know Your bottomless sufficiency. Send Your breakers and waves to roll over me (Psalm 42:7). Herein, I can delight in my void because Your energy of abundance sources me continually (2 Corinthians 12:9).
“When I see You as my Gushing Waterfall, I am not afraid to take others’ lack to You as well. The ministry of this service is not just for me but is “fully supplying the needs of the saints” (2 Corinthians 9:12). No wonder we overflow with thankfulness!
“Now glory be to You, O God, Who by Your mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. We offer these requests in the Name of Your Son, Amen.”