The ‘Buts’ of God – Breaking out of Barrenness!

By Helen Jesze, 25^th July 2020

“Behold now, you are barren but you shall conceive…”

Judges 13:3 KJV

In this chapter we read of a woman who could not have a child. In her culture infertile women were ridiculed, accused, and sometimes divorced. Self-worth at zero, she had the opportunity to be bitter, disappointed, envious and jealous. For her there were no laughing little faces, no chubby arms around her neck – she was considered a shame and disgrace to her husband and family. Then God stepped into her life, sending an angel who told her, “Behold, now you are barren… BUT you will conceive and bear a son!” She then bore Samson, who became a judge and mighty instrument in God’s hand against the enemies of Israel.

God’s BUT made all the difference, this little word after a negative statement, bringing a positive result, changing barrenness into abundance, pain into laughter, tears into joy!

In this picture, we see a sunflower has pushed its way up through the tarmac and concrete, and is blooming brightly and defiantly! I took this photo in the back yard of a particularly bleak block of flats where we lived at one time in Germany. It was too good to miss, for it spoke volumes to me!

I had so many needs at the time, and some situations seemed really like concrete – unmoveable, unyielding. But God was giving me a living picture through Nature, that something so weak as this sunflower could yet push through, because of God’s life living within it. How much more my life, for I was a child of the Living God! His ‘Buts’ would change situations!

Let me encourage you that God hears the cry of every breaking heart, and wants to speak a ‘BUT’ into your life too! What are some of the needs you might have at this time?

Now you’re in depression, BUT the urge to live will surely come again!
Now you have turmoil BUT you will have peace!
Now you’re in confusion, BUT the mists over your mind will be cleared!
Now you’ve been passed over, BUT promotion is coming!
Now it looks like sunset, BUT it’s really sunrise!
Now your sins are red like crimson, BUT they will be as white as snow!
Now you are bound, BUT you will be free!
Now the prodigal has gone, BUT you will see him or her return!
Now your Bank account is in the red, BUT you will see abundance!
Now you see a desert, BUT it will blossom like a rose!

Look for God’s ‘BUTS’ in His Word, concerning your situation. Believe and speak them out. Shower your desert with praise and worship and the tears of a penitent heart, and watch God cause YOU to break out of your barrenness, for He is a God of mercy and compassion, and longs to answer His People, bringing them into new fruitfulness and victory!