Living Out the Text: But not ...
In verses 8 and 9 of this passage, Paul goes through a list of challenges that we face. He says that we are afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. For one of these, though, he also tells us what we are not. We may be afflicted in every way, but we are not crushed. We may be perplexed, but we are not driven to despair. We may be persecuted, but we are not abandoned. We may be struck down, but we are not destroyed. No matter what we may be going through, there is always a, "but not." Even in the worst of our circumstances, God is always with us and always working to bring the best out of even the worst of circumstances. This gives us something to be grateful for no matter what. If we look hard enough, we can always find the hand of God in our circumstances and find our, "but not".
As you think about circumstances in your life, look for the, "but not." When you find it, thank God that he is working in all of your circumstances, even the bad ones, and look for how he is bring life out of chaos and confusion.
David W. Dalton
In verses 8 and 9 of this passage, Paul goes through a list of challenges that we face. He says that we are afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. For one of these, though, he also tells us what we are not. We may be afflicted in every way, but we are not crushed. We may be perplexed, but we are not driven to despair. We may be persecuted, but we are not abandoned. We may be struck down, but we are not destroyed. No matter what we may be going through, there is always a, "but not." Even in the worst of our circumstances, God is always with us and always working to bring the best out of even the worst of circumstances. This gives us something to be grateful for no matter what. If we look hard enough, we can always find the hand of God in our circumstances and find our, "but not".
As you think about circumstances in your life, look for the, "but not." When you find it, thank God that he is working in all of your circumstances, even the bad ones, and look for how he is bring life out of chaos and confusion.
David W. Dalton