Powered by Christ

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

-Ephesians 3:20-21

This past June, I went on an e-bike tour with my husband and his family in Vermont. It had been years since I’d ridden a bike, but I was reassured that these battery-powered bikes were equipped with speed options and gears that would help us through our four-hour trek. 

During our first mile, I noticed I was already lagging behind. I initially chalked it up to the fact that I hadn’t been on a bike in nearly a decade, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. It seemed like I was pedaling twice as hard as everyone else! My husband and my brother noticed me huffing and puffing and checked to make sure I was in the correct gear and that I had upped my speed (to turbo!), but I still couldn’t catch up. By the time we reached the next town, I was winded. My sister-in-law (who faithfully attends Cyclebar classes) offered to switch bikes with me and agreed that something was wrong. We made sure to stop by the bike shop to switch out the faulty one before we set out on another trail, and the difference was like night and day. I could finally pedal without being breathless. I could appreciate the scenery around me, the blue sky and the rolling mountains I had missed when I was so focused on not falling behind. When we stopped to take group photos, I could smile without wincing, no longer the sweaty, heaving mess I once was.

“Take time to reflect on what is powering your spiritual ‘battery’ today. Is it Christ’s love for you or something else? What are you trying to make happen in your own strength? Ask God to show you where you may be overextending and where you could be leaning into His strength.” 

The experience made me wonder about the times I’ve been spiritually running on a faulty e-bike. How often have I been frustrated by a project that I’ve tried to complete in my own strength? How many times have I approached my quiet time with the attitude of checking off a box, instead of seeking to be refreshed in His presence? How long have I been straining to “catch up” to the world’s standards and missed out on opportunities to serve others or see God’s love in action? The answer is countless times. And yet, I’m encouraged by Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church and his reminder of where our true power comes from: “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit” (Ephesians 3:16). Throughout this particular passage, Paul continues to emphasize the importance of God’s love and the abundance of life and power that we have access to when we experience it: “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (v. 19). He also reminds us that it’s only through God’s “mighty power at work within us” that we can do what He’s called us to do, and even more—or as he says, ”infinitely more than we might ask or think” (v. 21). 

Take time to reflect on what is powering your spiritual “battery” today. Is it Christ’s love for you or something else? What are you trying to make happen in your own strength? Ask God to show you where you may be overextending and where you could be leaning into His strength. 

Daneem Kim serves as a youth leader at Maine Street Baptist Church in Brunswick, Maine.