Howard Sugden, when I was in college, preached many memorable sermons.
After all these years, the one titled “But God . . .” still makes me stop
whenever I come to those words in the Bible. Here are a few examples of verses
that encourage me with the reminder of God’s righteous intervention in human
affairs:
“You meant evil against me; but God meant it for
good, in order to . . . save many people alive” (Gen. 50:20).
“Their beauty shall be consumed in the grave . . . . But God will redeem my
soul from the power of the grave” (Ps. 49:14-15).
“My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength
of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26).
“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good
man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates
His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us” (Rom. 5:7-8).
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard . . . the things which God has prepared
for those who love Him. But God has revealed
them to us through His Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:9-10).
Whenever you feel discouraged, look up some “but God” verses and be
reassured of God’s involvement in the lives of those who love Him.
God’s involvement in our lives should reassure us of His love. (RBC)