New Reminders: Promises

British publisher Ernest Benn (1875-1954) said, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”  His assessment still seems quite accurate all these years later. The Week, 5/24/24, p.17. Almost all politicians are prone to make promises, saying that if you elect me, I will make your life better in some way.  Sometimes they follow through, but all too often, they fall far short of what they say they will do.  Maybe that is one of the reasons it is so hard for us to put our trust in anyone, including God himself. 

It is true that no human being can guarantee that the things they promise will come to pass, so we often take their assurance of they will definitely do, give, or arrange with a healthy dose of skepticism.  God’s promises, on the other hand, can be completely relied upon. In the Bible, God promises: His constant presence, provision, protection, forgiveness, peace, guidance, strength, hope, and eternal life.  He also offers believers support in troubles, wisdom for decision making, and the assurance that He fulfilled His promise of salvation through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.   

God’s promises are very specific.  For example, in Deuteronomy 31:8 He says: "I will never leave you." In Jeremiah 29:11 He says, "I have plans to prosper you." In Philippians 4:19 He says:” I will provide for all your needs" and in John 3:16 He says: "I will give you eternal life."  The only thing he asks in return, is that we believe Him and trust Him completely.  Therein lies the problem, because we tend to apply the same skepticism to God’s promises as we do to the promises of human beings. What’s more, we are by nature impatient and often grow weary and frustrated when we have to wait for God to respond to our requests or when God does not fulfill His promises in the manor we might have hoped or anticipated. Turning our lives and expectations over to God, requires that we not only believe that he is true to His Word, but also that he always has our best interest in mind, no matter how we might perceive what happens.

The truth is that it is almost impossible for us to have a complete level of trust on our own.  The key is to not only believe, but to also trust that God will help us through whatever doubts or apprehensions we might have. His power and understanding are the source we need to let go and let God work in our lives.  It is only than that we are able to overcome our doubts and fears and trust God to fulfill all His promises in a way that is best for us. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight". Proverbs 3:5-6.