But God

Recently, I was watching a sermon by Willie George, founding pastor at Church on the Move in Tulsa, entitled “How to Deal with Wicked People” (out of Psalm 37). There was one thing he said stuck out - “Your setbacks maybe a setup in disguise.” It made me stop the video and ponder that phrase. I’ve had many setbacks in life, but have obviously made it through them. (I’m still here after all.) I hadn’t really thought of those setbacks as a setup for what’s next.

As pondered this revelation, I began to think more about those times that I had struggled and the scripture in 2nd Corinthians 4:8-10. In this passage Paul is describing the setbacks he’s experienced. In it he says - We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Notice that in every situation he describes there is a but. Now this will sound weird but stay with me. Where you see the but, that’s where God came in. Paul was hard pressed BUT not crushed. Paul was perplexed BUT not in despair. Get it? He had tough times but because of his relationship with Jesus, he never was destroyed. In the “but” God was redeeming Paul; He was saving him to continue to do the incredible work Paul was called to do.

In the Bible we find this phrase “but God” 44 times.

Genesis 31:7 Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Notice how God is saving, redeeming every time?

After contemplating this, I thought about my life and how God has redeemed me. Friends backstabbed and betrayed me, but God brought new friends. Rejected by a church, but God brought me to a new one. Gossiped about, but God reveled the truth. Every time He has come through.

This is why I trust Him. This is why I believe.

I finish with my my favorite “but God” verse -

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