What Does It Mean to Be "Made for More"?

You are made for more than what you've lost. You are made for more than your mistakes and failures. You are made for more than your addictions. You are made for more than the fear you feel. You are made for more than the abuse you've endured. You are made for more than how others have labeled and judged you.

Jesus himself said it clearly in John 14: "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I've been doing and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father."

Think about that—Jesus is saying you're made to do even greater things than He did during His earthly ministry! That's a powerful promise that should challenge us not to settle for less than what God has for us.

Why Do We Settle for Less Than God's Best?

Despite this incredible promise, many of us settle for less. Why?

We've been hurt before, so we stay where we are to avoid pain

We look at how far we've come and decide we've done enough

Life gets busy, and we conclude that adding anything else would be too much

But one core belief we must embrace is that God always, always has more for us—more for our lives, more for His kingdom. If we truly believe that, we can't settle.

As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things that he planned for us long ago." You are God's masterpiece because you're created for more!

Why Is Faith the Foundation for Living a "Made for More" Life?

We cannot pursue the "more" that God has for us without a strong foundation of faith. Faith is indispensable—it appears about 485 times in the New Testament alone!

There are two types of faith:

Theoretical faith - Saying "I believe in God" or "Jesus is my Savior"

Practical faith - How we respond when life gets difficult

Our goal should be that more and more we respond in faith rather than in flesh:

Faith says, "God's got this." Flesh says, "I've got to figure this out."

Faith says, "I can trust God." Flesh says, "It's me, myself, and I."

Faith says, "God is big." Flesh says, "My problems are big."

How Do We Build Stronger Faith?

Romans 10:17 gives us the answer: "Faith comes from hearing the good news about Christ." The early church didn't have the Bible as we have it today—they gathered to hear stories about Jesus and how remarkable He was. That's how they grew their faith, and it's how we grow ours too.

There's a direct correlation between hearing God's Word and our level of faith. When we put church in a bucket labeled "optional" while other activities are "mandatory," we shouldn't wonder why our faith falters.

Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, "According to your faith, let it be done to you." Faith is the belief that God is going to show up. Faith is expectation. Faith is assuming the best about God.

Three Important Truths About Faith

1. Faith requires us to take a step without knowing everything

We often want to know all the details before we step out in faith. We want to see the beginning, middle, and end. But Scripture tells us we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

There's a difference between discernment and disobedience. Some of us have missed out on a move of God because we're being disobedient but calling it discernment.

Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God "is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we can ask or think." How can God do more than we can ask or think if we need all the information upfront?

2. A little bit of faith goes a long way

Have you ever thought, "Who am I? Why would God ever use me? I don't have enough faith"? You're in good company. Most of us have felt that way.

In Mark 9:24, a father cries out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" This captures the tension many of us feel—we believe theoretically, but we struggle with practical faith in specific situations.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 17:20, "If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." That's not because of the size of our faith but because of the size of our God.

When we put a little faith in a big God, we see big results.

3. Faith moves us forward toward more

Faith is what propels us toward the "more" God has for us. Like Abraham, who "went without knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8), we may not see the entire path, but we can take the next step.

Abraham's one step of faith is still impacting generations after him. That's what it looks like to embrace being made for more.

Life Application

Where in your life are you settling for less? What's holding you back from the "more" God has for you?

Is it your past? Are there things back there you aren't proud of?

Is it your present? Do you feel like you need to "get your stuff together" before moving forward?

Is it your future? Does it seem uncertain or chaotic?

Faith is the foundation for all that God wants to do in and through you. It's the foundation for His will and His way for your life. It's the foundation for discovering all that you were created to do.

Take some time this week to reflect on these questions:

In what area of my life am I most tempted to settle for less than God's best?

What step of faith is God asking me to take right now, even without seeing the whole picture?

How can I build my faith daily through hearing the Word of God?

What "mountains" in my life need to be moved by even a mustard seed of faith?

Remember Isaiah 43:18-19: "Forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I'm going to do. For I'm about to do something new. See, I've already begun! Do you not see it?"

God has already begun something new in your life. What He's done in your past pales in comparison to what He's about to do. Because you are made for more.

Pastor Tim