Many of us have heard the saying, “but God." It gives us a sense of hope at the fact that we may have this broken world around us, but God sent His son to die on the cross for us to defeat death for good, so we know this life isn’t forever. Many of us have heard of this, but lately, I have noticed people, myself included, using “but God” in a different way.
I know I have been made in your image, but God, why am I not good enough for that boy?
I know there is a lesson behind this, but God why did I have to go through this?
I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but God, it’s okay because you forgive me.
I know I’m not perfect, but God why does it seem like you are only punishing me?
But God, why? Why is this entire happening? Why are you putting me through this?
“…This happened so the power of God could be seen in Him.” John 9:3
All the awful things that you are going through, God will use those same awful things to show His beautiful glory.
Today, as I was getting into the shower I hear my roommate say that there was water leaking out of our pantry. So I threw a towel on and went with her to investigate. A 20-minute FaceTime with my dad later, lo and behold our air conditioner froze up and flooded most of our garage, pantry and some of the laundry room. A few hours before this revealing I experienced losing a “minute to win it” game, hitting a bird with my car, and a serious anxiety attack. All of these events had me so shaken up and discouraged, and to make it even worse, the first day of school is tomorrow.
I have always been told that when you are at your best with the Lord, that is when Satan will try and knock you down the hardest, but I think we often forget how hard Satan can actually fight. The frustration we have all experienced, the pain that we have felt deep down in our souls, and the anger that could be seen in our eyes, that is all the work of Satan. That is terrifying. The devil is so powerful that he can turn your whole day upside-down, but how beautiful is it that we have a Lord that doesn't just turn our day right side up, but our entire life.
Although it is the devil that is working in ways to deceive you, it is our awesome God that uses those things to glorify Him.
Through the stages of depression, anxiety, frustration, and anything else you may struggle through, do not be discouraged. The same God who moved mountains and split the seas lives inside of you, and with that power, He can make you over come anything. Our God is a God with a heart for everyone to know His name, sometimes that just mean you have to experience some hardship for people to see that the Lord really is grace giving because if He could get you through that, then He could help anyone.
We are all struggling. We are all experiencing our own pain. We are going living in this dark and broken world. BUT GOD will use all of this to better the lives of others be opening a pathway for us to share the gospel with others. BUT GOD loves us so much that He will bring us through any thing that gets in our way.
BUT GOD loved the world so much that He sent His one and only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins.
