Graphic: Martha G. Brady
Photo: Canva

Promise: 1. a statement by a person that he or she will do or not do something.  (noun) 2. a cause or ground for hope. (verb)

When I think of the promises of GOD that are given in the Bible, I realize that the power of a promise totally depends on the person making the promise. If they are honest and have the resources to keep their promise, we have hope that the promise will be kept. But if the person making the promise is either dishonest, has no intention of keeping the promise or for some reason is unable to keep it because of their own frailty, your hope can easily be dashed. This promise you counted on is not going to be kept. It may be something as simple as the repayment of a debt that will not be repaid. stop Or as complex as a divorce with all the broken dreams and fractured relationships that go with it.

When we hear a promise of GOD, let us stop and think about who is making the promise. The Infinite Creator GOD of the universe! He has all the infinite resources at His disposal to fulfill His promise if He sees fit. Once again, I am drawn to this Tim Keller quote on prayer:

“God will either give us what we ask for or give us what we would have asked for if we knew everything he knows.” 

It clearly relates to GOD’s promises, doesn’t it? It puts into perspective all the promises we think He made and didn’t keep…because He knows so much more than we do about whatever it is we are asking for. He also has a completely different perspective on what is happening in our lives.

 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No.
 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you,
Silvanus and Timothy and I,
was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes.
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.
That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

II Corinthian 1:18-20 ESV