A "BUT NOT" TO HOLD ON TO

2 Corinthians 4 : 7-9

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.  We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair, we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.

            Matthew Henry tells us in his famous commentary what it means to be perplexed but not dismayed.  “We are Perplexed, often uncertain, and in doubt what will become of us, and not always without anxiety in our minds on this account; yet not in despair (v. 8), even in our greatest perplexities, knowing that God is able to support us, and to deliver us, and in Him we always place our trust and hope.”

            God has reminded me of this verse over and over this past week.  First, I read it in my daily devotional book on Monday, then a friend quoted it to me on Tuesday, the sermon I heard at Wednesday night service was taken from it, and then on Thursday the professor in my Doctrine of God class just happened to mention it!  Maybe, perhaps—God is trying to tell me something!

            So, I have decided that I will open my spiritual ears and hear what God is saying.  I like how Matthew Henry tells us that even though we might be uncertain, in doubt of what will become of us, and not always without anxiety in our minds-we do not let despair come over us!  With God there is always hope, always a measure of strength given that will help us to overcome and keep on keeping on.

            Matthew Henry goes on to say “whatever condition the children of God may be in, in this world, they have a “but not” to comfort themselves with; their case sometimes is bad, yea very bad, but not so bad as it might be.”  I am so glad that we have that “but not” to hold on to! I am holding on to so much that my spiritual knuckles are bleeding!  I feel like the kitten in the poster that is barely hanging on and the caption says “Don’t give up on me yet, God promises me that he hasn’t!”  I am determined to keep hanging on and hold on to the “but not” that God has given me!  Hopefully, you will too!
Michelle McDermott