But God

I start my new job on Monday. It’s been about six weeks since I’ve had to put in an eight-hour work day. I’ve had projects and to-do lists these last six weeks, but it hasn’t been for a paycheck. Most of the projects have been in helping or serving family, and I’ve loved almost ever moment of it. It’s in seasons like these that I realize I’m not built for the workforce like some of my friends. I work because I have to earn a living. Thankfully, I usually enjoy my work (a gift from God), but in the depths of my heart I know that I long to take care of hearth and home and use my giftings to serve my church, community, and family.

“But God.” I’ve always known that phrase to mean that God is in the midst of my circumstances. I lost my job, but God. I lost my home, but God. It doesn’t really matter the situation as long as the “but God” is still present.

However, I’m discovering what “but God” means for me. I was talking with a friend the other day about the promises of God. I immediately confirmed that God always fulfills His promises. And then I realized my unspoken response was, “but not all God’s promises are for me.” I’m still not exactly sure when this belief took root in my heart or from where it came. It might have been a generational belief, or a lie that I picked up and started believing. Regardless of its origins, it needs to be uprooted and thrown into the fire.

This got me thinking about the difference between God’s promises and good things. Health, marriage, children, and happiness are all good things. I think sometimes I get good things confused with what He promises and that’s why I don’t feel like all His promises are for me. I’ve made the Lord seem unfaithful because I feel I am lacking good things, but are those even things that would be good for me? I’m processing a lot, so I don’t have all the answers, but here are my thoughts and the things that I’m working on rewriting in my heart.

• He “settles the solitary in a home.” Psalm 68:6a.
• “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
• “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
• “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” John 16:22
• “You [God] hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5
• “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
• “I [God] will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols. I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” Ezekiel 36:25-26
• “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my [Jesus’] name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

I know there are many more and I’m asking the Holy Spirit to help clarify the differences between good things and the promises of God that I can stand solidly on. What promises help anchor you?

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