“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”—Psalm 73:26
If you saw the unfolding story of 22-month-old Kenneth Howard, surely you were as heavy hearted as I. He wandered away from his Kentucky home on Mother’s Day late in the day. Darkness would soon cover the wooded terrain. How in the world would they ever find a tiny toddler in a dark forest with overgrown mining operations nearby? And how would that poor baby survive alone in the dark? As a mom, I was heartsick thinking about his tiny self, alone and afraid. But God.
The sun set and the sun rose … no Kenneth. Again, the sun set and the sun rose … still no Kenneth. And yet again, the sun set and the sun rose … no Kenneth. The world collectively held their breath, still waiting, praying, hoping beyond hope. No doubt, his parents, exhausted yet sleepless, were distraught and physically ill with escalating fear that they fought to control. But God.
The Howard family lives deep in the woods—home to bears needing to feed their young, along with coyotes, cougars and other animals of prey who were in search of their next meal. The mining business, long gone from the area, had left fragile ground and caves that led deep into the earth. More than likely these covered, dry tunnels were home to meat-eating animals. But God.
How many times had a four-legged skilled hunter passed within feet of his childish oblivion? How many times had Kenneth’s innocent childlike chatter and noisy way through the woods caught the attention of hungry predators? Surely his cries for momma and daddy, coupled with his slow navigation of the terrain, caught the eye of the ones who could make an easy meal of him. But then, for no apparent reason, they had a change in menu. How many times had death come close enough to breathe upon his defenseless, sleeping frame? But God.
Kenneth’s environment operated strictly on instinct and made no distinction between human life and food for survival. Who did little Kenneth cry for? The only names on his precious lips were probably momma and daddy, two people whose hands were completely tied. At 22 months, I’m not sure he would have known to cry out to God.
The truth is, all the go-to methods and natural resources did not provide Kenneth with any human comfort or protection. Authorities were working as hard as they could to find him, but their assistance would not arrive for 67 hours. Everything was stacked against a tiny boy in the great wide world.
But God … a few hours short of three full days since he was last seen, the rescue team heard his cry. They found him on a 50-foot cliff. He was alive, scratched up, had bug bites and was dehydrated, but he seemed completely fine otherwise.
Many times, God can seem distant or even mysterious. Then there are other times when we get to point and say, “Look! There He is! Look what He’s done!” And the miracle of Kenneth Howard is one such opportunity.
Right in the middle of ordinary life, God sends us a reminder that He sees us and that His hand is upon us even when it looks like the odds are stacked against us. But God. The words breathe new life into our dreams, our needs, our circumstances. Into us.
Many precious words in the Bible fill me with encouragement for today and hope for tomorrow. Two of my favorite words are “But God.” For me, those words hold power and authority. They speak of new beginnings and do-overs. They hold endless possibility, hope, promise. It says things are about to change … for the good. To me, But God is a beautiful representation of the full gospel.
The word but negates everything that is said prior to it. For example:
When we use the word but as an excuse:
I need to work out, but I really don’t want to.
I want to eat better, but I’m too lazy to prep food.
When we use the word but to take the heat off of us:
I’m sorry I did that, but you weren’t answering me.
I wanted to be there, but nobody ever called me.
But God can give the word but a transformation because, with Him, the word but indicates change is coming and, with God, His change is always good.
But God is where the impossible meets the possible. When there seems to be no way, God can make a way. From lost to found, dead to new life, blind but now I see. Everything we hoped and dreamed for can seem a total loss, but God … He shows up and gives purpose to our pain, delivers an answer we’ve searched for, or provides a resource just in time.
Let’s agree to redirect our steps. Since our steps are determined by our words, let’s be purposeful about using the word but. Let’s use the words “But I” as a trigger to stop and then rephrase what we were getting ready to say. Let’s turn our words into encouragement and speak a blessing over ourselves. Anytime we want to use But I, let’s replace it with But God. I want us to unleash the power of the word into our lives and speak life instead of defeat.
Conclusion
The example of Kenneth Howard is for you and me today. Just like a story of encouragement in the Bible, this is a modern-day example of God’s attentiveness and protection. Kenneth doesn’t have enough life under his belt to earn anything or bring something of value to the table. God looks over him simply because Kenneth is God’s child, and His children are His heart.
The heart of the Father is to redeem and give life. When it appears we’re out of options and down for the count, let’s boldly interject But God! When God reverses things, He’s not going backward. No, He’s starting over, new … right where you are. Change is coming, and it will be good … because God is good all the time.
NOW LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
Self-Reflection
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take the truths you discover about yourself and hold them up to the Light to evaluate them against who God says you are.
- Have you given much thought to But God?
- Have you seen But God alive and active in your life? If so, explain.
- Do you have a hard time believing God is concerned about you and your life? Explain.
- Is it possible for God to be at work in your life and you not be aware of it? Explain.
- Do you think God is waiting to catch you doing something wrong, or do you think He is kind and patient? Explain.
- Do you think God is mad at you all the time, sometimes, or never? Explain.
- God defines you by who He is. Write out how you imagine He would define you. Use scripture that reveals how He sees you or what He says you mean to Him. What scripture do you have to back it up with?
Take Action
Use God’s word to take control over the traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises in His word.
Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
There are so many wonderful scriptures that speak about the beauty of God’s power. He has the ability to change our circumstances. He also has the authority to turn our pain into something beautiful. Ponder these scriptures and hold them close to your heart. Choose one or more to print and post it in your sight line. You will discover the whole gospel in these two, powerful, life-changing words, But God!
“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).
