“My flesh and my heart may fail, butGodis the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

…But God

These two words are found together 50 times in the NIV version of the Bible. They hold so much power throughout Scripture and in our lives.

Joseph tells his brothers after they’ve sold him into slavery and now stand before him (since he has become the second most powerful man in all of Egypt), “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). How many times in your life has either the enemy or a person meant something for your harm, but God used it for good? He’s done so over and over again in mine.

“But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding” (Jeremiah 10:12). How many times have we said, “But God, You just don’t understand how hard this is for me”? At those time we really need to lean on the God of power, wisdom and understanding, trusting that if He’s able to create the earth, world, and heavens, He can certainly take care of the hard things in our lives.

Psalm 66:19 says, “But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.” It’s amazing how many prayers God answers for us… they are a sweet smelling aroma to Him. Let’s make sure to thank Him and give Him all the glory. I’ve been praying for a deeper relationship with my granddaughter and literally as I write these words I am praising God for the beginning of the answer to that prayer as she’s waking up in my living room after spending the night for the first time in a long time. He is so faithful.

He’s the God who keeps His promises, even though, like Abraham, we may not see them come to fruition in our lifetime, but future generations will: “He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child” (Acts 7:5). Hold onto the promises God has given you—they will come to pass in His timing.

One of the most comforting verses in all of Scripture: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Praise God, we do not have to, indeed cannot, have it all together before we come to Him. He longed for reconciliation and relationship with humanity enough to send His Son for us, to be the sacrificial Lamb to atone for our sins and make the way.

Father God, thank You for loving us. Thank You for all of the “…but God” times in our lives. May we give You all the glory. Amen.