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From Our Interim Pastor, The Rev. Dierdre L. Thomson
I trust in You, O Lord; Psalm 31:14
Fall has arrived. We are having a mixture of fall-type and summer-type weather. The schools are open and classes have begun.
Do you remember English class? Not the reading part so much - I am talking about grammar. You know, the differences between
the words good and well, or some teachers would tell you not to use the word but to begin a sentence. I remember
the but caution well. I have, however, used it to begin sentences quite often - usually when I am writing my sermons.
Elizabeth Crewes tells us that she has learned that it is perfectly acceptable to use the word but to begin a sentence.
Not only is it acceptable, sometimes the use of the word but is essential because it allows me to put God between a
pressing problem and me. We see this use of the word but throughout Scripture, but nowhere is the use of this little word
seen more often than in the Psalms. David begins his affirmation of confidence in God with the little word but. We
hear David saying, Lord, I have a problem. My foes are real, this situation is more than I can handle, but I trust in You, O
Lord. You are bigger than my problem and mightier than my foes. The word but puts God between David and his enemies.
The word but can be used in a negative way, and it can be used in a positive way. But is a word that wipes out
everything you have just said. We need, therefore, to figure out how we want to use the word but. Do we want to use it in
a negative way - for example, Yes, I know I should attend Worship each Sunday, but it is such a busy time of year. We
might also say, I know that I should not go over the speed limit, but I am just going over it a little - only 10 or 15
miles an hour. We might say, I know that I need to spend more time with my family, but Aunt Susie drives me bonkers with
her incessant chatter. Crewes reminds us that when we use the word but in a negative way, that is, as an excuse, then
those English teachers were correct - it is a word that wipes out everything that was said before - it is making the
problem bigger.
Let us look, therefore, at the positive way in using the word but. Yes, this is hard, but I trust in you, O Lord.
Yes, the foes are real, but I trust in you O Lord. On my own I cannot do this, but I trust in you, O Lord. Instead of
wiping out the words before, but is bringing the solution to those words. Let us remember that unbelief puts our
circumstances between us and God. Faith puts God between us and our circumstances.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
In His Service,
Dierdre
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