Those Conjunctions in Our Lives

Suddenly prepositions and conjunctions are popping up in my Bible everywhere, because in fact, they are everywhere, joining words and clauses. I’ve overlooked them. What are little insignificant words, mere prepositions like “and,” “but,” “or,” “to,” in comparison to the big guns like action verbs, proper nouns and descriptive adjectives?

It turns out insignificant connecters are very important to God.

God’s words are intentional. Even ones I may have ignored in the past. I am starting to sit up and take notice of the little guys.

When life throws hard stuff, “so that” makes sense out of suffering. “Therefore,” gives context to what the next passage is “there for” by joining it with what came before. “But God” changes direction drastically, turning us 180 degrees, and “in Christ” births life from death. Twists and caveats pivot on those tiny words and phrases.

This morning I woke up feeling like it was time to go to bed, like every year of my life creaked and groaned somewhere or someplace in my connections. Purpose felt dried and brittle. Pieces of life felt disconnected.

Today I read Psalm 92, a song sung as part of Old Testament Sabbath worship. It contrasts weakened scattered enemies of God with the strength and vitality of the righteous.

“They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green…”

Sappy and green is looking good about now.

To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Ps. 92:14-15; NASB.

That little preposition “to” jumped out at me.

“To declare …”

I’ve read over a lot of “to’s” in my life, but this one moved me as much as any verb, noun, or adjective. It breathed hope into me. “To” provides the “why” to keep on, to push ahead, even when I feel more gray than green.

I’ve not paid enough attention to the conjunctions in my life.

Maybe prepositions and connecting words are kinda like people. That myriad of conjunctive people, part of the body of Christ, the “ands” “for” and “buts.” Yes, even the buts. Without those connectors, big and important shrink in prominence and lack context. Christ’s church is made of a vast body of parts, many of them overlooked and unnoticed, but each with inestimable purpose and value.

“To declare that the Lord is upright…”

In spite of weariness, a few worn edges or irrelevant status, I have a few declarations left in me.

-That the Lord is upright.
-That He is my rock.
-That there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Now that is a proclamation sappy and green. It gives life dimension and purpose. It assures us we are here for a reason.

Declare it.

*Photo by Philip Schroeder download here on Unsplash