One of my favorite phrases in the bible is “but God.” It may seem silly, I know, but I have it posted on my lamp beside my bed. It helps me to remember where God found me, and that I can trust Him no matter what situation may arise. We so quickly forget what God has shown us, what He has done, but this is something I always want to remember. Something I must remember.
My girls are beginning to read and are becoming increasingly aware of the words they find around them. One morning not long ago, my older daughter asked me why I have these two words written on a post-it, haphazardly stuck to my lamp, and I told her this: “all through the bible there are things that happen––people sin or something goes wrong––but over and over there are two words that make it all better, ‘but God.’” You see, no matter what happens in life, no matter how bad things seem to be, God is still the constant.
He is still there working all things for good. The psalmist tells us, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (emphasis mine, Psalm 73:26). In the book of Genesis, Joseph echoes this sentiment when he says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (emphasis mine, Genesis 50:20). Yet, one of the ultimate “but God” statements in the bible is this: “…but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (emphasis mine, Romans 5:8).
What amazing truths. Jesus is our Redeemer. Knowing Him to be such, allows us the freedom to trust and surrender ourselves to Him.
What I mean to say is that we need to know our God. We need to know who He is and what He has done. It is only then that we are able to understand that He is for us, not against us, which it frees us to obey and follow Him wherever He may lead knowing that He will work all things for good for those who love and follow Him (Romans 8:28).
I praise you, my Lord, for being our Rescuer. Our Redeemer. Our Rock. The only One we may securely build our life upon. Our Shepherd. Our Guide. Our Comforter. Our All…
{Know your God!}
What a lovely message and reminder. And I realize I also love that phrase. That no matter what happens or how much I fail, there is a “but God”!! There is hope!
Amen!He is always our hope! Blessings, Susi!
God has literally brought life out of death in several different, difficult situations I’ve faced. (There’s too much to tell with too graphic a nature to get into in a comment. ;)) There is no limit to his miraculous intervention and faithful love! The words “but God” are so powerful when they appear in Scripture and in real examples of grace in our own lives! Thanks for this post, Laurie!
Praise God for the redemption you’ve witnessed in your life! What an amazing God we serve! Blessings, Suzanne!
These are two of my favorite bible words, too! Thank you for reminding me today. I really needed my memory refreshed at this very moment.
Blessings to you Melinda…I love how God uses each of us as encouragement for each other!
No matter how bad things seem to be God is the constant. Thank you for this reminder.
Two little words that contain such hope!
Amen!