The “But God” Moments That Changed Everything

You hear people say it all the time. Someone who was nearly hurt in an accident will say something like, “I thought for sure I was gonna get crushed, but God moved that car out of my way.” Another person who faces the loss of employment, or some type of failure, where the odds suddenly turn in their favor might say, “I thought for sure that I would not be able to recover; but God provided something I could not even have expected.”

Those of us who are political junkies and were listening to or watching the broadcast of former President Donald Trump and his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania this past weekend had a “but God” moment when a slight turn of the head prevented an unthinkable tragedy for occurring after an assassination attempt. The former President himself acknowledged as much the day after this horrific incident when he said, “I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead.” “By luck or by God, many people are saying it’s by God I’m still here.” (Goodwin, 2024). This was a “but God” moment if there ever was one.

The writer of this phrase, the vicious Christian-killing but converted Saul of Tarsus, now called Paul

Many have already taken pen to paper (or more specifically fingers to keyboards) to extol the life-saving work of God on behalf of Mr. Trump. I have nothing extraordinary to add to their affirmations of God’s favor. But I am compelled to exhort anyone and everyone to grasp the significance of these “but God” moments, not only in Trump’s life but in each of our lives. These moments are real for each of us, and bring us a divine opportunity to contemplate the purpose of our existence in the light of time and eternity. I have witnessed in the days since this horrible tragedy dozens of commentators and political pundits acknowledge the hand of Almighty God in Mr. Trump’s life. I think we may be on the threshold of the revival for which we have prayed.

This “But God” phrase which I am using is extremely significant within several passages in the Bible’s New Testament. Perhaps the most significant usage of the phrase occurs in the Letter to the Ephesians chapter 2, where in nearly every English Bible translation we read the following: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…” (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV).

The writer of this phrase, the vicious Christian-killing but converted Saul of Tarsus, now called Paul, had poured himself into a gentile city called Ephesus, spending many years there preaching to converts as well as winning many souls through his ministry in the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8-10 NIV). Paul was continually rejected in his efforts, but he knew that God had saved him from his murderous ways, and this compelled him to preach (Galatians 1:15-16; 1 Timothy 1:15).

Paul himself had a “but God” moment when he was knocked off his horse on the way to persecute and jail more Christians 

Paul himself had a “but God” moment when he was knocked off his horse on the way to persecute and jail more Christians in the city of Damascus (Acts 9). That changed the course of his life. He recognized the significance of this gap between where he thought he was, and where God saw him. He acknowledged that in this letter to the people he loved in Ephesus. As they endured great persecution, Paul reminded them and us that we had all deserved the persecution because of our own evil (Ephesians 2:3). It was a “but God” moment that had changed them; and they needed to remember this in the face of fierce opposition (Revelation 2:1-7). It was not their own power or strength that was going to change them or save them, “but God” alone through His rich mercy and great love (verse 4).

We just witnessed the love and mercy of God mightily in the last few days. Certainly this “but God” moment in the life of Donald J. Trump changed him. He told one reporter that he had thrown out his “attack dog” speech for the Republican Convention and was changing his focus to a call for unity in America (Goodwin, 2024). Those of us who are sensitive to the Holy Spirit recognized this “but God” moment as the movement of God. Even some who are not so inclined to spiritual things have had their lives radically altered in the light of these historic and miraculous results.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil”

I was watching Megan Kelly on her show describe the events surrounding the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. I never considered her to be a person of faith, although it was never something by which I judged her reporting. She noted the time of Trump’s attempted assassination at 6:11 PM on July 13. She suddenly linked this time to a Bible verse from Ephesians 6:11 and cited the verse for her audience: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). She was significantly moved by the incident as were many of us. But the fact that so many people are turning to God, and turning to the scripture is remarkable! May God allow that whether or not our country is restored to its former glory, many souls are called to glory because of this “but God” moment!

The English Standard Version of the Bible has a number of additional “but God” mentions which also command our pause to reflect on the state of our lives in the light of mortality and eternity:

“But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me”

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans)

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong”

‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

Here is one with a slight variation but still most significant: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

I don’t know if Donald Trump really knows Jesus Christ as his personal savior, but I do know a few things. I know that he acknowledges God often: for example, when Roe v. Wade was overturned he acknowledged that “God did it;” and at the ‘Faith and Freedom’ Conference he stated, “We do not answer to the bureaucrats in Washington; we answer to God in Heaven" (Foley, 2024). I know that it was God who showed favor to us and made us an exceptional nation from the start.

I know that God hears our prayers as we pray for this nation and for this man to be leading us once again. And there is something inside me that believes that God has answered that prayer, and there is an opportunity to turn the page, not only to see our country renewed and restored; but for the grace and great mercy of God to be recognized and established once again. 

God has heard our cries for mercy and our call for national repentance

God has heard our cries for mercy and our call for national repentance, and He has answered! As a people and as a nation we needed a “but God” moment; and He has provided it! And only He can lead us through this world of hurt and pain to national success and ultimately to an eternal reward!

This near-death, God-orchestrated deliverance was a remarkable circumstance! But we need these remarkable circumstances. We are not just talking about restoring our republic and rescuing it from leftists. We’re talking about the very salvation of our souls and the souls of many who right now are eternally separated from God. We do not know whether Donald Trump is born again or just acknowledges God’s power. We all do acknowledge the significant moment we have just witnessed. We hope for a revival of the American dream and the American church once again! We are not able to do any of this on own own, “but God..”

Sources:

Foley, R. (2024, June 22). Trump tells Christians their 'religion will be in tatters' if Biden wins: 'We answer to God in Heaven' The Christian Post: News [Web Blog].

Goodwin, M. (2024, July 14). Grateful, defiant Trump recounts surviving ‘surreal’ assassination attempt at rally: ‘I’m supposed to be dead’ NY Post.