Featuring: But God

"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

First an educational lesson. The word “but” is a coordinating conjunction that is used to connect words, phrases or clauses that are equal in grammatical structure and express contrasting ideas. The word “but” connects things that are contrasting ideas. It is a reminder that your current position is not permanent. Because of God in the midst of struggles, hope remains.  

We live in a fallen world, where there is going to be suffering. The Bible says “when” not “if” suffering happens. When life is hard, when things don’t go your way, when you get news that hurts, know BUT because of the mercies of God the verse Romans 8:28 is true. God will work ALL things together for your good. The good, the bad, the ugly.

The struggle is in the waiting period, wondering if God really cares, wondering when your situation will shift. In the Bible the phrase “But God” appears anywhere between 48-60 times (depending on translations). Every time it is stated in the Bible it is during a situation that is shifting from hopelessness to seeing God move. God is not asleep, he sees you and does care about your situation. How God works it out, we do not always know; when God will work it out, that too we don’t always know. But will he, yes he will.