But...

If you're as immature as I am, you may have had a little laugh at that title. But we aren't talking about that; we're talking about how that simple word, so short, can bring so much hope and understanding to so many. A continuation to a story, consequence, or quote, this word can flip a negative connotation to a positive. It is such a beautiful word to hear (in most cases) in the Word, so let's look at a few.

“...in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...” -Ephesians 2: 2-5

We were all full of sin at one point, “children of wrath,” as the writer Paul puts, and then we have that beautiful phrase; But God. Because of God's nature, He made us alive, unified, and blessed.

“Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead…” - Acts 13: 28-30

Once again, we see that reassuring phrase; But God. When they had killed the Son of God, nailed on that cross, and put His body in the tomb, all hope seemed lost. But God raised Him up, setting Christ beside Himself on the throne.

So, here's the point I want to get at. There has been so much sadness in this world. Those battling with mental illnesses taking their lives,envy towards others, hatred overlapping love; all of these things make it seem so impossible to find peace and happiness in this crazy world. Yet we need to use the example of these writers. We need to have a “but God” mentality. Maybe you lost a job, but God knows the path we need to take that will bring us to Him. Maybe you had a falling out with a brother or sister, but God has a forgiving, understanding, loving nature, and so should we.

It isn't enough to just read these examples from real-life events; we need to take them, study them, and live them out. In your time of need, just think, but God.

In Him,

Halle Nelsen