This week week’s theme is “The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed” from Ephesians 3:1-21.

When I hear weather forecasters say there’s going to be “considerable cloudiness,” I wonder how much

time they expect me to take out of my day to sit and consider the clouds. Or maybe what they are telling

me is that if I am the sort who likes to sit and consider clouds, today would be a good day for it. It’s a

mystery.

But according to local experts, if I don’t like the weather in my city, I can just wait fifteen minutes and it

will change. I think this joke is common in about 75% of cities. Although people also like to joke about

how weather forecasters aren’t great at predicting things, today’s technology is a marvel compared to

the past. Imagine living on the southeast coast in the 1800’s and getting hurricane reports based on a

guy on a ship radioing in what he’s looking at as he’s bobbing around at sea. Today we get formal

introductions to hurricanes by name a week in advance.

For years I wondered why hurricane reporters would say things like, “You should expect a storm surge of

six to eight feet, or even up to ten feet!” Why not just say six to ten feet? My assumption is that what

they mean is that while a ten-foot surge is not likely, it could happen. Things could go above and beyond

expectations.

Above and beyond.

Is God capable of doing something we ask for? Yes.

Is He capable of going beyond what we ask for? Yes.

Is He capable of going beyond what we’re even able to think about?

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that

works in us – to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.

Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 HCSB)



If a forecaster calls for heavy rains on Friday, I trust them enough to make sure my umbrella is in the car.

If they call for considerable cloudiness, I assume I will have opportunity to consider the clouds if I am so

led. But if I ask the God of the universe for help, why do I seldom consider that He could find a solution

above and beyond the one I think is best?

By Mark Stuart

Mark is the husband of Laura, father of Shelby and Jacob, and father-in-law of Bailey.