Boy, lots of ways to finish that statement, aren’t there? This post will look at a pretty wide range of directions this statement can take.
It’s really an extension of a couple of previous posts that looked at the state of our world, and the state of the crises assaulting myself and people in my life. Add to that the numerous conversations I’ve had, and articles or posts I’ve read, that talk about essentially the same stuff, and it can seem a bit overwhelming. To quote last week, “What’s up with all this junk?”
Don’t worry, I’m not rehashing all of that. “Nuff said for now!
Let’s dive into some options to finish out the statement, “But God…”
Based on recent exposure to the raft of problems the world, and individuals, are dealing with, the first thought that comes to mind is:
“But God, why?”
I can’t imagine anyone out there who hasn’t uttered these words at some stage of their lives. And quite likely, it’s an ongoing theme for so many people. We desperately want to make sense of the chaos around us and infiltrating our little worlds.
Spoiler alert – we’ll never get an answer that fully satisfies us! Even if God chose to reveal his purposes behind every trial and tragedy in our lives, would that really put the issue to rest? Or would we try to convince God that his logic wasn’t very sound? Or that his answer didn’t make the reality of the trial any easier? Or that we would just keep digging until we only found deeper frustration.
One of my go-to verses when I question God’s plans, or when something makes no sense to me, is Deuteronomy 29:29. How’s that for an easy scripture reference to memorize? Here’s what it says in part:
The secret things belong to the Lord our God.
Plain and simple – he is God, and we are not. We will never understand everything this side of heaven. That’s when we need to give up on our desire to be omniscient (all-knowing) and leave it in the hands of the Creator of the Universe. I think he’s got a better handle on things than I do.
When I first landed on the “but God” phrase, my mind immediately went to the scripture in Ephesians 2, where it begins with stating the sorry state of mankind because of our sinful nature. Then it goes on in verses 4-7 (a really long sentence!) with these incredible words of comfort – But God…
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.
Doesn’t that just ooze with warmth and mercy and love and hope?
Honestly, this is my favorite “but God” of the whole post.
Let’s take a look at one more option. And for this one, I want you to think about whatever “junk” you might be dealing with right now. Or perhaps something you dread on the horizon. Maybe even a trial you’ve just emerged from.
I’m right there with you, doing this same exercise with the challenges I’m struggling through at this very moment. I’m also looking back at the years since Dale died. There is a slight difference in the tone of the following statements. There’s a lesson to be learned in that comparison.
“Right now” troubles:
- But God … assures me that he’s walking with me.
- But God … will ultimately bring good from this trial, even if I can’t imagine it now.
- But God … has led me to step into these circumstances and I must trust his will for me in this.
- But God … understands my heartache and his Spirit brings comfort in the darkness.
- But God … knows how hot the furnace should be, and how long I should be in it.
Past troubles:
- But God … deepened my faith because I had to lean hard into him.
- But God … used my heartache to speak into others’ trials.
- But God … brought an eternal perspective I wouldn’t have without the trial.
- But God … dropped unexpected blessings into my life in the midst of the hard times.
- But God … reminded me again and again that his love for me is deep and personal and never-failing.
Notice the different tenor? The first batch requires a ton of faith and trust. The second batch can be full of gratitude, if we know what to look for.
May your trust be deep and persevering in your “right now” troubles, and may God give you eyes to see his handiwork in the divine rearview mirror.
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3