But God....

A few years ago, I compiled a list of every time the Bible said “But God”.  I did it because I had just ended the biggest self-pity party in the history of pity parties.   I needed to think beyond myself for once. I narrowed it down to 31, one for each day.  I did a short study on each verse. 

The most famous one (IMO) is in Genesis.  Joseph had  been sold into slavery by his own brothers.  He spent approximately 11 years as a slave to a government official, followed by two years in prison after being wrongfully accused.  Joseph was exonerated and placed second in command, of all of Egypt, for 9 years before he saw his brothers again. He felt some bitterness at seeing the ones who had sold him into slavery all those years ago.  But God...

In Genesis 50:20,  long after Joseph reconciled with his brothers and moved them to Egypt to provide for them, Joseph said his most famous line—“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.”

Do we look around and everything feels like a foreign country?  Most days. Does the government mean evil against us? Possibly.  Are we being made into  “slaves” of certain rules?  Maybe.  Am I scared? Sure.  But does God mean it for good? Yes! That’s the only thing we KNOW for sure. 

We could spend all of our energy making names famous—our governor, our president, Dr Faucci, Dr Birx, or any of a number of experts, real or self-proclaimed.  We can put our hands over our hearts and pledge  allegiance to the rights given to us by a man-made government, and be every level of hurt when they don’t behave the way we think they should. Or, we can make God’s name famous, spreading His love, giving ourselves and others a hope—His trustworthy Word and steadfast love to anchor to while it storms around us.  

I want to come out on the other side of this, whatever happens, knowing I chose not to dwell on the enemy, or the evil that might have been  meant for me.  But that I chose to Live every day in the “But God”, in the One whose plans are always for my good and always for His glory.  And if I can bring any of you along into this beautiful inheritance, I will be honored that God brought me here for my own “such a time as this” moment.