During a former chapter of my life, I taught fourth grade language arts and social studies.
One of the reading strategies we emphasized was looking for Ah-HA Moments—places in a book where readers finally receive answers to the questions they’ve been asking—questions like:
- Why is the main character doing that?
- Who could be responsible for this situation?
- How will the main character(s) solve this problem?
The quest for Ah-HA Moments helps keep readers engaged, aids comprehension, and adds more pleasure to the reading experience.
I took great delight in seeing my students internalize this strategy. Even during other subjects, I’d hear “Ah-HA!” now and then, as a student found the perfect verb for her writing or a history research-team discovered why the Erie Canal was abandoned.
Eons ago the apostle Paul desired Ah-HA Moments for his children—the spiritual offspring he’d led to faith in Jesus.
(“St. Paul” by Rembrandt, c. 1657)
In Ephesians 1:18, Paul prays that his readers would experience spiritual Ah-HA Moments.
No, you won’t find those exact words in any translation. What you will find is a statement with similar meaning:
“I pray that the eyes of your heart
may be enlightened” (NIV).
And then Paul chose to highlight three aspects of our Christian experience that can create those Ah-HA moments: 1) Our hope in Jesus, 2) The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and 3) God’s incomparable power.
I wonder what Ah-HA Moments we might discover while meditating on each one?
Consider the following:
Hope
“Hope is the reality that is being constructed,
but is not yet visible.”
—William Stringfellow (emphasis added)
And just what does our reality-under-construction include?
- God’s good work in us that is never-failing and never-ending (Philippians 1:6)
- Peace and joy, because we hope in Jesus (Romans 15:13)
- God’s delight in us—not when we’re finally perfect—but when we put our hope in him (Psalm 147:11)
- Hope that translates into strength—especially strength to persevere (Isaiah 40:31)
- Refinement, as the anticipation of Jesus’ return “acts as a purifying hope in our lives” (1 John 3:2-3 and Kay Arthur*)
Did any of those statements provide an Ah-HA Moment for you?
For me it was the third bullet point. God delights in me, simply because I hope in him. I don’t have to wait until I’m perfect to receive his approval.
The Riches of His Inheritance
Some Bible scholars believe Paul meant God’s inheritance in us.
We are his treasured possession, adopted into his family when we accept Jesus into our lives (Deuteronomy 7:6; Galatians 3:29).
As such, he takes care of us, provides purpose for us, and even takes pleasure in us. He enjoys our company and looks forward to the day when we’ll all be together with him for eternity (Revelation 21:3).
Again, any Ah-HA Moments?
I, for one, am astounded to realize God treasures me—sinful and flawed as I am.
God’s Incomparable Power
Every one of us can relate stories of God’s miraculous work, as he’s provided, protected, and guided in ways beyond human explanation.
But sometimes he produces super-human perseverance, inner strength, and even joy through difficult circumstances.
The Christian who avails herself of God’s power is ready for both kinds of intervention. She knows that God will supply all her needs, including the wherewithal to turn every negative into a positive.
That last statement provides my final Ah-HA for this post; maybe for you too. We can find delight—in spite of distress—as we avail ourselves of God’s power.
Of course, these two verses from Ephesians aren’t the only places in scripture where we can experience Ah-HA Moments. In fact, we will never come to the end of them—for which I am very grateful. You too?
“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture;
the book widens and deepens
with our years.”
–Charles Spurgeon
That’s especially true as we invite God to enlighten the eyes of our hearts—with Ah-HA moments.
*Kay Arthur, His Imprint, My Expression, p. 31.
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From the Inside Out 