by Sue Duby
Some ordinary routines have a way of sending our focus quickly back to Him.
As Chuck backed the car out of the garage, I grabbed the overloaded trashcan to drag it to the curb. A few steps along the way, my foot landed in a puddle of water. My feet flew, my body sailed into the air and I crashed onto the concrete floor. Cautiously, I waited. Curiously, no pain. All limbs intact. Clear vision. I rose easily and continued my journey to the curb.
Chuck looked at me, wide-eyed. “How did you not crack your head, break your wrist and fracture your hip???” I smiled and whispered, “I think an angel cushioned me!”. Not a single bruise the next day! But God.
I rounded the final corner on my walk to find two of Chuck’s buddies chatting. I waved and jokingly called out, “Hope you guys are figuring everything out!” Bob turned my way with a somber look. “I just found out I have a mass in my abdomen”. That wave turned in to a long chat, prayer in the middle of the street and commitment to wait together for news. Two days later, after emergency surgery, we heard. “While I was in recovery, the doctor came by my side and smiled. ‘There is nothing there!!!’”. Somehow, a blood clot had appeared as a mass on the scan, then unexpectedly dissolved just before surgery. Four hours later, Bob was home in his own bed. But God.
A friend showed up for her quarterly exam to check the progression of her macular degeneration. Each time, a scary visit. After more tests, the doctor entered the room and paused. “That’s weird. Your eyes are totally normal. I’ll see you in a year!”. But God.
Matt began experiencing seizures as a teen. One summer day, he convinced his Dad to take him for an afternoon of boating on the lake. Just before leaving the dock, his Dad had one of those unexplainable nudges. “Hey guys. Just in case Matt has an episode in the water, here’s what you need to do”. Less than one hour later, Matt’s arms frantically waved at them, yards from the boat. Clearly a seizure. Everyone jumped, followed protocol and Matt was soon back in the boat, recovering. But God.
I’ve read the wild stories. The ones where no human explanation can be found. The wonders. Always somewhere else. Yet, somehow, I’m realizing, if I pause and pay attention, I can see them too!
So many places in Scripture, He reminds us. But God. The One who does wonders. Who acts on our behalf. Who fulfills His promises. Who invites us to fully trust His ways.
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. Acts 7:9-10 NIV
From human eyes, Joseph’s future looked hopeless. No possible turn of events or way to fix his circumstances. Yet, the story did not end with his slavery. “But God was with him”. . . Just as He is with us. Letting His story unfold in our lives, with the final chapter lovingly in His hands.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. Ps 73:26 NIV
No matter how much time I spend trying to love like He loves, keep my words kind, not worry about the future and trust His plan for me, it’s not quite enough for that perfect peace. Thankfully, it’s not up to me! “But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”.
“What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! Luke 12:6-7 MSG
For the myriad of questions and concerns that float through our minds in a day, there is always a P.S. to each of them. “But God _______”. His focus on each of us is sure. His care beyond imagining.
Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. 1 Cor 1:7-9 MSG
May we fully trust Him in our journeys. Looking for the “But God” stories in our own lives and those around us. Celebrating His goodness when we see them, knowing He is always at work on our behalf.
