Yes, you read the title correctly, no misspellings. The Merriam- Webster dictionary defines but as “— used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way. I learnt that when offering a compliment anytime you frame a sentence with a positive and then add a “but”… anything before the “but” looses it’s importance. For instance, when your boss is reviewing your work. He or she might say something like, “You did a great job managing the people on that last project, but you didn’t stay within budget.” Using the word “but” in the middle of a sentence can negate anything and everything before it. You certainly don’t want to do this when apologizing, for example, “I’m sorry, but…”, I don’t think many people are aware of this when they are speaking. It is something we should be sensitive to, especially when apologizing. This is something I had to learn. This article may explain it better.
Didn’t set out for this post to become a lesson in communication but there is something to be learnt here spiritually as well. I was talking with someone a few weeks ago. If I remember correctly the topic was about planning. The person I was speaking with was concerned that not enough planning had been done for something. So I suggested, just trust God it will all work out. The reply was, “Trust God but…” that’s where I had to interrupt. Trust God but. Oooo, that’s dangerous. It sounded like God wasn’t big enough. We have a big God who sees the big picture. We have a God that goes before us and paves a way for us. We can plan six ways to Sunday, we can make all the plans we want BUT GOD, directs our steps. “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16: 9.
See how this can be applied spiritually? Man can plan BUT the Lord directs. The “but God” negates whatever we plan. That’s not to say we shouldn’t, we should plan, BUT GOD will directs our steps and provide. And if for some reason if we have done all we think we can do to plan for something, we as humans can forget, we aren’t perfect. God will provide whatever it is we may have overlooked, He will make it work. Because, Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
So be careful where you put your “but.” Whether you are giving praise or trusting God for something, stop and think, is going to be “God but…” or “But God…?”
The Kedge Anchor 
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