All my friends have big buts...

All my friends have big buts:

I know God can, but...
I want to go, but...
I should do more, but....
We would adopt, but....
I shouldn't be anxious, but...

These are samples from recent conversations. Some are my words, some belong to others. There is a paradox of being a Believer but lacking belief. We are called to be faithful yet lack faith. We are called to follow but afraid to make the first step. We believe, but not in the provision and ability of the One in whom we believe.

There is hope, it comes with the words "but God..."

Psalms 49:15
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah.

Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalms 75:6-7
For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation; But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.

Mark 2:7b
“who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Acts 2:24
But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

Romans 5:8-9
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

1 Corinthians 1:27
but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

2 Corinthians 7:6a
But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us...

Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ ( by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

1 Thessalonians 2:4
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

I guess our buts look pretty small when we look at it that way.