“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…”
Galatians 1:15–16
As we have seen throughout the Word of God, the “But God” moments in Scripture make all the difference in people’s lives. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David, the Psalmist, Jonah, Nehemiah, Daniel, and so many others all had their lives changed because of a “But God.” Paul was no different. When he was known as Saul of Tarsus—breathing out threats and following through with them—his life was forever changed on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).
As Paul reflected on his calling as an apostle, he realized that God had a plan for his life all along. Paul confessed, “Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; yet I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 1:13–14).
In today’s verse, Paul acknowledges that his “But God” moment began long before he was even born—and that the purpose of it was to reveal the Son of God in him and through him. We might say that this is the ultimate purpose of every “But God.”
Peter expressed the same truth in a different way: “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Pet. 2:10). And this is so “that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).
The “But God” moments in Scripture remind us that our God is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20)—no matter what our situation or circumstances may be.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must never give up or give in to discouragement. We must never back up or back down in life’s experiences. Instead, we should look for the “But God” moments in our lives.
Anchor For Today:
Remember the “But God” moments from the past, thank Him for those in the present, and trust Him to reveal even more in the future—so that His Son may be revealed in you and that you may proclaim what God has accomplished by His grace in your life!