First off, this is not a body-shaming post! And secondly, in full disclosure, in a conversation with a friend last week, she mentioned this as the title of her pastor’s sermon a few years ago.
I’m always sniffing around for an attention grabbing post title (but seldom achieving that!) and I thought this one definitely fit the bill.
Let’s start with one of the most beloved scriptures from Ephesians 2. I’m sharing the full context of the scripture so we can see the before and after of “but God.” That’s key to our topic for today. Here’s the text from Ephesians 2:1-7 (It’s actually just two sentences!):
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
But God,
being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
The first half is a sobering description of our life before our salvation. It’s not a very pretty picture, is it? And yet, can’t we all relate to it, in some ways? I know I certainly can.
The second half is overflowing with an incredibly beautiful picture of what our life is after putting our faith in Jesus. Do you notice none of this lovely picture is of our own doing? That’s because of those two small, but life-changing words connecting these two sentences. But God.
He is the one who has taken us from death to life. He is the one who loves us deeply enough, even in our sin, to send his son to pay that unimaginable penalty that allows us to live in the truth of “part two.”
How can you apply those two words to your own life? In the daily struggles you face? I’ll get us started with just a few of my own.
- I daily fight loneliness after the death of my husband, but God has promised to walk me through this and to never leave me, and he continues to deliver on that promise.
- I often struggle with the same sins over and over again, but God has already forgiven me for all sins from now until the end of my earthly life.
- Much too often I spend wasted time on the “what ifs” or “if onlys,” but God assures me that he is sovereign over every detail of my life, and in that I must rest.
- I get to the end of myself and wonder where my next ounce of strength will come from, but God reminds me that his strength is made perfect in my weakness.
What are the circumstances you find yourself in that cause you to despair or lose hope? Is it a loss of a loved one? Or a difficult medical diagnosis for yourself or a friend? Do you have relationship challenges? Maybe you even struggle to trust this God.
What “but God” promises can help you make it through your trial, or see God’s hand in it?
Need a few extra verses that can help you find your own “but God?” Here’s some encouragement for you.
- As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:20)
- But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies and all is well. (1 Kings 5:4)
- My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalm 73:26)
- But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)
The scriptures are full of the “but God” promises. The question really is, “Am I going through anything in this life that is too difficult for God to overcome?” How big is your “but God?” I assure you, there’s no challenge, no difficulty, no heartache you can experience in this life that God can’t overcome with his promises.
For I am sure that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39