BUT GOD…

               BUT GOD...

                              BUT GOD....

Perhaps my favorite phrase in the Word of God is, “But God.”  Perhaps this is my favorite because I know how human I am.  I know how at times I am weak when I need to be strong.  I know at times I speak when I need to be silent or maybe am silent when I need to speak forth.  I know that many times a day I fail my God but that He never fails me. I know when my plate is full and life is being squeezed in a continual vice, He is my strength.  I know when I am at the end of myself and my ability; I can find Him in my situation. I find myself saying often these days, “I can’t.”  Then I turn around and say, “But God,” for I know that although I can’t, God can.

The word but is a transition word, a conjunction to show contrast, on the other hand, yet.  I looked up the phrase that I use often and found several places in the scripture that show me although we are weak, He is strong.  Although I am a sinner, He is my righteousness.  Although I stumble, He catches me.  Although my faith is weak, His ability is greater.  When the future looks bleak to me, He will bring me into the Promised Land.

But God is found in scripture to encourage and to build our faith.  Acts 10 tells us that God is not a respecter of persons, what He did in the Bible, He will do today. Malachi 3 tells us that God does not change, He is the same yesterday, today and forever it tells us in Heb. 13:8. These promises are ours today.  Israel told Joseph that he would die “but God shall be with you.” Another place in Genesis tells us “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good”, I love this thought that when I don’t know what direction to turn, “But God led the people.” Phil 2 says, “But God had mercy on him.”  Thank you God for your mercy! “But God is faithful,” 1 Corinthians tells us.  1 Corinthians also tells me that “But God giveth the increase.” They thought Christ was dead, “But God raised him from the dead.” And a favorite but God is Rom 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

I want to encourage you don’t give up when you mess up.  Don’t quit when you are weak.  Don’t settle for less than “But God.”  I thank God that the exact phrase “But God” is in the Word multiple times and that I can use the hope those words bring to carry me every day.