Psalm 102:12 begins: “But You, O Yahweh …”. The first eleven verses of the Psalm are taken up with lament, how “my heart has been smitten” (:4) “my bones cling to my flesh” (:5) and “my enemies have reproached me all day long” (:8). But at the end of his complaint comes a transition: “BUT YOU, O Yahweh.” Even in his great troubles, the Psalmist knew there was a factor outside himself that he could count on: “But You …”. GOD would make all the difference in his situation!

Throughout scripture we see expressions like this, most famously perhaps in Ephesians 2:4, where after detailing how we were all hopelessly dead in our sins, Paul writes, “BUT GOD …” and begins to describe how He had mercy on us, and saved us by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Without God there was no hope for our salvation — yet thankfully there was another factor: “But God”!

Many of us face difficult obstacles, or daunting tasks, and things may, from a human perspective, seem hopeless or doubtful. But if you are a Christian, you need to remember that there is another factor in the equation for you: “But God …”. And He is the One who can make all the difference!