Joel 2:26 My people shall never be ashamed.

A powerful prayer from Scripture is:

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.— Psalm 25:2 (KJV)

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. — Psalm 71:9 (KJV)

Lord, do not forsake me. Do not put me to shame. I have put my trust in You. Let not those who look at my life ask, “Where is her God?” Defend me, restore me, guide me and let my life testify that those who wait upon You will never be ashamed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Joel 2:26 My people shall never be ashamed.

There is nothing beyond God's power. Scripture is very clear about that. But the Bible also teaches that God's ability to do something does not mean He will always do it exactly when, how, or in the form we ask.

What can God do?

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” — Luke 1:37 (KJV)

“Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power… and there is nothing too hard for thee.” — Jeremiah 32:17 (KJV)

And the verse you are remembering:

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” — Ephesians 3:20 (KJV)

Think about those words:

ABLE.
EXCEEDINGLY.
ABUNDANTLY.
ABOVE.
ALL THAT WE ASK.
OR EVEN THINK.

God's capacity is not limited by the size of our circumstances.

Then why do we sometimes pray and seemingly receive no answer?

Because “God can” and “God will” are not exactly the same statement.

Sometimes God's answer is yes.

Sometimes it is not yet.

Sometimes God redirects us because what we are asking for is not His will.

Sometimes He answers differently from what we imagined.

Sometimes there are things happening that we cannot yet see.

And sometimes we simply do not know why.

Faith is not believing, “God must do exactly what I asked.”

Faith is believing:

“God is able. God is good. God hears me. And even when I cannot understand what He is doing, I will continue trusting Him.”

Jesus Himself prayed:

“Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42 (KJV)

That is enormous faith—not lack of faith.

But keep asking. Keep believing.

Jesus said:

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” — Matthew 7:7 (KJV)

“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” — Mark 11:24 (KJV)

“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed… nothing shall be impossible unto you.” — Matthew 17:20 (KJV)

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” — James 1:6 (KJV)

And when circumstances look completely impossible:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)

That one matters.

Sight says: Look at the circumstances.

Faith says: Look at God.

Sight says: How can this possibly happen?

Faith says: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” — Genesis 18:14.

So what can't God do?

God cannot cease being God.

He cannot lie — Numbers 23:19.

He cannot deny His own nature — 2 Timothy 2:13.

But when we are talking about power?

Your situation is not too difficult.

Your resources do not limit Him.

Your age does not limit Him.

Other people's decisions do not reduce His sovereignty.

What looks dead to you does not intimidate the God who raises the dead.

What looks impossible to you is not impossible to Him.

So pray boldly.

Ask. Believe. Obey. Wait. Trust.

And leave room for God to answer in a way greater than the answer you designed in your own mind.

Because He is:

“ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK.”

— Ephesians 3:20

That is faith:

I don't know HOW.
I don't know WHEN.
I don't know WHAT WAY.
But I know WHO.

GOD IS ABLE.