Almighty God: Remembering Who Holds What I Cannot

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Genesis 17:1 NIV

There are moments in our walk with God when the circumstances surrounding us become so overwhelming that our prayers are no longer polished. They become cries. Seasons of waiting can test every ounce of faith we possess, especially when multiple situations seem to converge at once, all demanding answers we do not have and solutions we cannot produce. Recently, I found myself in one of those moments. My life felt chaotic, with circumstances pressing in from every direction. I was frustrated because so much was beyond my control. After pouring my heart out before the Lord in prayer, I did what I regularly teach my students and clients to do: I became still. Rather than ending my prayer time after speaking, I set my timer for twenty minutes and simply listened, creating space for the Father to respond.

Just before beginning that time of stillness, I had been listening to Abba by Psalmist Raine. As I sat quietly before the Lord, about 12 minutes into my time of waiting, one phrase from the song suddenly echoed through my mind: "Almighty God." It was not the entire song, nor another lyric. Just those two words. They interrupted my thoughts and that immediately caught my attention. I decided not to dismiss it as still in my head from a long I listened to minutes before, but to seek for understanding of who “Almighty God” was. Months back, I had heard another name of God, Jehovah Shalom, after an intense battle finally came to an end so I knew even something as simple as one of His names could be answer to my cry.

When I searched the phrase in Scripture, it led me directly to one of God's oldest covenant names: El Shaddai. Ironically—or perhaps more accurately, providentially—I had sensed about two weeks prior that I was supposed to study this very name. However, life and the busyness of it got in the way. I am sure I have looked up the meaning or El Shaddai a time or two but for whatever reason I did not associate the two names together. Now, in the middle of my own uncertainty, the Father brought me back to the study I had delayed. His answer to my questions was not an explanation of my circumstances. His answer was a revelation of His character.

The first appearance of El Shaddai is found in Genesis 17:1, when God appeared to Abram and declared, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." God revealed this name at a moment when His covenant promise appeared impossible. Abraham and Sarah had reached an age where having children was naturally impossible, yet God introduced Himself as El Shaddai before fulfilling the promise He had already spoken. The significance is profound. Before God changed Abraham's circumstances, He first revealed another dimension of who He is. Abraham did not need more strength, more resources, or a better strategy. He needed to know the One who had made the promise.

The Hebrew name El Shaddai is traditionally translated "God Almighty," but its meaning reaches even further. It reveals God as the All-Powerful One whose authority cannot be challenged. It also carries the beautiful picture of the All-Sufficient One, the God who supplies everything His covenant people lack. Throughout history, scholars have also connected the name with mountains, symbolizing strength, permanence, and divine government, while others have noted its imagery of nourishment and sustaining care. Together, these perspectives reveal a God who is infinitely powerful while simultaneously providing everything His children need to endure and overcome.

As I reflected on this name, I realized the Father was gently confronting the very place where my heart was struggling. My circumstances had convinced me that because I had no control, everything felt uncertain. Yet El Shaddai reminds us that while we may not be in control, He always is. Nothing unfolding around me had surprised Him. Nothing was outside His authority. Every delay, every unanswered prayer, every burden weighing on my heart remained fully under the jurisdiction of Almighty God.

The New Testament continues this revelation through the Greek title Pantokratōr, meaning "the One who holds all power" or "the One who rules over everything." It is the title repeatedly used throughout the book of Revelation as heaven worships the Lord God Almighty. The same God who sustained Abraham, strengthened Jacob, spoke through Moses, and remained sovereign throughout Job's suffering is the same Almighty God who reigns over history and every detail of our individual lives today. Heaven celebrates Him as Almighty because every throne, every kingdom, every ruler, every spiritual power, and every circumstance ultimately bows beneath His authority.

As I sat quietly in His presence this morning, I recognized that God had not ignored my cries. He answered them. He simply answered them differently than I expected. Instead of outlining His plan or providing a timeline for resolution, He reminded me of His name. He reminded me that my confidence cannot rest in understanding every circumstance. It must rest in the character of the One who governs them all. Sometimes the greatest answer to prayer is not new information but a fresh revelation of who God is.

Waiting remains one of the hardest assignments for believers because it requires surrendering the illusion of control. Yet every season of waiting presents another opportunity to discover God through one of His names. This season has reminded me that El Shaddai is not merely a title to recite. It is an invitation to trust the God whose power is limitless, whose provision is complete, whose covenant never fails, and whose authority extends over every battle I cannot fight and every situation I cannot fix. While my circumstances have not yet changed, my perspective is shifting. I may not know how every burden pressing against my life will be resolved, but I know the One who carries all authority over them. That is enough to keep trusting, keep waiting, and keep resting in the hands of Almighty God.

Remember… it’s real in these spiritual streets!™

Dr. Melinda Michelle Jefferson

www.gmme21.com