The "But" Factor: Thriving Through Life’s Challenges

Bishop’s Mind Daily 441 – The "But" Factor

(2 Corinthians 4:8-9, February 12, 2025)

"We are pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KSB)

How many of you remember that song "Doin’ Da Butt"? They were talking about the butt, but I’m talking about the "but" factor—a spiritual and scriptural principle.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul teaches us how to live in a dual reality. He awakens the church in Corinth to the realization that more than one thing is happening at the same time. You can experience multiple emotions simultaneously. Just like you can have two restaurants in the same location—such as Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts—you can have more than one reality coexisting.

I invite you to open your spiritual eyes to see that something more is happening. Open your spiritual ears to hear what else is going on. Open your spiritual senses to discern the deeper reality. Open your spiritual mouth to taste and see that the Lord is good. Open your hands to touch and experience what God is doing. There’s more happening than what meets the eye.

Paul says, "We are pressed on every side, but not crushed." I’m not pretending we aren’t under pressure—at home, at work, in our communities, and in the government. But I refuse to let this pressure crush me or rob me of my joy. I still have joy. We may be oppressed on every side, but I still have peace. We may be struggling, but I still have love.

Paul continues, "We are perplexed, but not in despair." I’m not pretending I don’t have questions. I’m not pretending I don’t face challenges. But I refuse to give up hope. I still trust in God. A part of me knows the truth, while another part may doubt. A part of me walks by faith, while another part wrestles with fear. But I choose to hold onto hope.

I invite you to tap into the love within you and let it grow. Strengthen your faith. Expand your hope. As the scripture says, "Now abide faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love." Something greater is happening within you—be aware of it, nurture it, and let it flourish.

Paul also says, "We are persecuted, but not abandoned." I’m not pretending people aren’t talking about you. You’ve been criticized, rejected, and called everything but a child of God. But Jesus warned us, "In this world, you will have tribulation. They persecuted Me, and they will persecute you." However, He also said, "In Me, you will have peace."

Even in persecution, God has not abandoned us. He promises: "When you walk through the fire, I will be with you. When you go through the flood, I will be with you. When you pass through the waters, you will not drown, because I am with you." Even if your parents forsake you, the Lord will take you up. He assures us, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Though people may leave, God never will. As the Psalmist says, "I once was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor their seed begging for bread."

Paul concludes, "We have been knocked down, but we are not destroyed." Yes, life may have knocked you down—through circumstances, pressures, or struggles—but you still have an opportunity to get back up. Just like in a boxing match when the referee counts, 1, 2, 3… but it’s not 10 yet—you are not defeated. You can rise again. "A righteous person falls seven times, but they rise again."

I’m telling you today—there’s a "but" factor. Recognize what’s happening in the natural and what’s happening in the supernatural. The earthly realm is not all there is. There is a deeper, metaphysical reality at work.

There’s Something Else Happening (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

1. Physical / Metaphysical

2. Surface / Deeper Meaning

3. Situation / Saturation

Reflection Question: What businesses have teamed up together in the same space?