Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. – Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)
Have you ever been in a situation where everything looks good but…? How about “he (or she) is nice but…?” What about “it feels right but…?”
All these statements and other similar ones start off with something or somebody that is seen in a positive light. You generally feel good, however there is a “but.” A “but” usually indicates that all is not 100% right or good with the situation. Deep down you know or feel that something is wrong or is lacking and you have no idea why or even what it is exactly. The “but” just comes out at the end of the statement and hangs there.
If it is okay on the surface and you don’t see anything wrong, then why is there a “but?” A “but” in these kinds of situations usually indicated that there is a problem. It may not be a problem you can see but it is one that God can and knows far more about it than you will ever know.
God uses the “buts” in our lives to let us know that all is not right. He wants us to be aware that even though it is something we might want, it may not be the right thing or time for us. It is His way of keeping us on the right path and not to go recklessly down the wrong one based on our assumption that all is well.
No matter how much we try to justify our initial thoughts, God will keep putting that “but” at the end of them until we get the message. A “but” is there for a reason and as a warning. We need to start thinking about the situation or person when the “but” appears. It may not be there at the start, but God will put it there when the time is right or when we need it to be there.
God may also be using the “but” to make us stop in our tracks as we need to wait a bit longer. There may be a need to delay our decision while God takes the time to make sure everything is right and that nothing is lacking or causes us to doubt. The last thing God wants for us is to ignore the “but” and make the wrong choice.
Sometimes the “but” will stick out like a sore thumb and sometimes (most probably all the time) it won’t. Finding out what the “but” is important before going forward. Praying to God about the “but” should be the first thing we do when it appears. Knowing what the “but” is and why it is there will help us to know whether to go to the left or to the right.
The next time a “but” appears, don’t ignore it. Instead take the time to find out what God is trying to tell you about the situation or person. By doing this we will have a lot less “buts” and a lot more “yes.”
Originally published November 2018