The Big BUT

 

 

"I've had it."

"I've buried myself in a hole I'll never get out of."

"My back is totally up against the wall."

"I can't take any more."

"I can't do it."

"I wish I had never..............."

 

Is there a central theme in those statements we have sometimes made of ourselves?  Perhaps we are still making one or more of them.  All are statements of despair.  All would indicate that we feel we are buried in a mire we can't get out of.  All are, actually, quite negative.  All are usually the preamble to a bunch of unnecessary moaning and groaning and feeling sorry for ourselves.  And all hardly ever get followed up with "the big BUT".

 

The big BUT is that which shows our true character.  It is the beautiful part of us that is calm, strong, and steady.  It is that part of us in which we are not alone as we work through the darkness we find ourselves in occasionally.  The big BUT is when we relate to and rely on the words of Paul, who, in his letter to the Philippians (4:13) said, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."  Beautiful trees, flowers, plants and vegetables grow from the darkness of the places where their seeds were planted.  We can grow into beautiful people simply by relying on the strength that comes from He who was sent to a very dark place--a grave, the very one He arose from on our behalf.  Because of that we don't have to feel we are buried.

 

Bottom Line Thought:  Do you find it easy to forget about the big BUT when you find your back is against the wall?