One of my favorite words in the Bible is “yet.”
yet
ADVERB1 Up until the present or a specified or implied time; by now or then.2 Still; even (used to emphasize increase or repetition)3 In spite of that; neverthelessCONJUNCTIONBut at the same time; but nevertheless.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,and by night, but I find no rest.Yet you are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel.”
“O you hope of Israel,its savior in time of trouble,why should you be like a stranger in the land,like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?Why should you be like a man confused,like a mighty warrior who cannot save?Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,and we are called by your name;do not leave us.”
“Though the fig tree should not blossom,nor fruit be on the vines,the produce of the olive failand the fields yield no food,the flock be cut off from the foldand there be no herd in the stalls,yet I will rejoice in the Lord;I will take joy in the God of my salvation.God, the Lord, is my strength;he makes my feet like the deer’s;he makes me tread on my high places.”
God doesn’t stop being who He is just because life becomes hard. Darkness and suffering don’t negate God; they provide the canvas to make His light and goodness more visible.
So let’s make “yet” part of our anthem:
- Though what I’m going through is hard, yet God is still good.
- Though my heart is heavy and I don’t know how I’m going to make it, yet I will live with joy because God is my hope and my strength.
- Though God seems distant and His silence is drowning the sound of my prayers, yet He is near, He hears my cries, and He’s working in ways my eyes cannot see.
- Though my life is hard and messy, yet I will keep praising God, holding onto Him, and trusting in Him because He is still an amazing God who loves me and is able to accomplish infinitely more than I ask or think.
“Yet” is the kind of word where the tension between theology and real life thrives. It does not deny the reality of what we’re going through, but it chooses to focus on a bigger reality that our human eyes cannot always see. This word changes our perspective, taking our gaze off ourselves and lifting our eyes to the Almighty God who holds all things together and has the power to redeem people and situations.
“Weep With Me,” by Rend Collective
Weep with me. Lord, will You weep with me?
I don’t need answers. All I need is to know that You care for me.
Hear my plea. Are You even listening?
Lord, I will wrestle with Your heart, but I won’t let You go.
You know I believe. Help my unbelief.
Yet I will praise You, yet I will sing of Your name.
Here in the shadows, here I will offer my praise.
What’s true in the light is still true in the dark.
You’re good and You’re kind and You care for this heart.
Lord, I believe that You weep with me.
Part the seas, Lord, make a way for me.
Here in the midst of my lament I have faith, yes, I still believe.
You love me. Your plans are to prosper me.
You’re working everything for good even when I can’t see.
Turn my lament into a love song. From this lament raise up an anthem.
Yet I will praise You, yet I will sing of Your name.
Here in the shadows, here I will offer my praise.
What’s true in the light is still true in the dark.
You’re good and You’re kind and You care for this heart.
Lord, I believe that You weep with me.
Esther Guy 
Thank you for this post, Esther. It really helped me look at my current situation in God’s perspective. This has been very encouraging.
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