Oh, no. Where’s the cream? A thorough search of the fridge had just revealed an inconvenient truth. I’d forgotten to purchase the whipping cream.
With dinner guests arriving in a few hours, and three little ones underfoot, I dreaded the thought of packing everybody into the car to purchase one item at the grocery store. Besides, the to-do list still included many tasks. What’s a woman to do?
Call her husband.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, but could you stop at the store on your way home from the office and pick up some whipping cream? I need it for tonight’s dessert, and somehow came home without it yesterday.”
“Sure, I can do that,” he replied. “No problem.”
Two hours later Steve walked in the door, cream in hand.
I knew I could count on him; he’d proven himself trustworthy countless times before. (Even if he’d forgotten, Steve would have gone back to the store and made good on his promise.)
So why is it, when God says, “What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do” (Isaiah 46:11b), my response is sometimes doubt?
Of course, the promises I ask God to fulfill usually require more than two hours of wait time. It’s in the long siege on pause I begin to wonder: Maybe this promise that seemed so perfect for my situation isn’t really for me after all (1).
Have such thoughts occurred to you also?
Here’s what I’m trying to remember: If I trust Steve, based on promises he’s kept in the past, how much more should I take God at his word?
In addition, he is perfect in all his ways, loving and compassionate, abundantly good and righteous (2). Our faith in God’s promises can remain firm because:
So as I wait for fulfillment, I can remember: out of the several thousand promises in scripture, he has already kept many of them in specific, personal ways.
He’s done the same for you too.
It would be impractical to make a list here of all those Bible promises, checking them off one by one as we remember occasions when each was fulfilled. But what if we identify categories, and check off those? Categories such as:
- Salvation and the gift of eternal life (John 6:40)
- A relationship with God Almighty and his continual presence (Revelation 3:20; Psalm 145:18)
- Forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
- Emotional stability (Psalm 27:1), peace ((Isaiah 26:3), and joy (John 15:11)
- Protection (Psalm 32:7)
- Provision (Philippians 4:19)
- Guidance (Isaiah 58:11)
- Satisfaction in life (John 10:10)
- Help (Psalm 46:1)
- Answered prayer (1 John 5:14-15)
- Blessings (Psalm 84:11-12)
No doubt all of us can name events when such promises have been fulfilled—the day we said yes to Jesus, the times we experienced an unearthly reassurance of God’s presence, or received miraculous provision, enjoyed divine contentment, felt his inexplicable peace, and more.
In remembering we foster the courage to persevere and the faith to hope with confident expectation.
So what event, what answer to prayer are you hoping for today? Can you identify an appropriate promise? The scriptures above offer a place to start. And then let’s pray our promises.
For example:
I praise You, O God, for your promise of protection from trouble. Not that I expect to never experience difficulty, but I can count on You to guard me as we pass through it.
As long as the trouble may last, you will be with me, to shelter me in your comfort and be my helper through the challenge. Never will you abandon me; I am secure in you.
I look forward, Father, to every statement here coming to fruition, because you have said it. My heart is steadfast, trusting in you.
(Psalm 32:7; James 1:2-4; Psalm 23:4; 9:9; 34:19;
Hebrews 13:6; Proverbs 14:26, Psalm 112:7)
What is a favorite scripture promise you turn to again and again? Please share in the comment section below!
Notes:
- Sometimes there are good reasons why promises are not fulfilled. See “Unfulfilled Promises” for several possibilities.
- Psalm 18:30; Psalm 103:4; Psalm 145:7, 17
Art & photo credits: http://www.flickr.com; http://www.canva.com; Nancy Ruegg; http://www.canva.com (3); http://www.needpix.com; http://www.canva.com.
From the Inside Out 
During really challenging times, for me, this one’s the cream of the crop 🙂 . . .
“And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one.” Isaiah 45:3
Oh, that’s a GOOD one–and has surely proved true in my life too. Thank you so much for bringing this promise to light!
In my opinion, God’s plan is better than ours and if we are not getting what we want, we might be deserving something better hence a bit wait. 😊
https://nanchi.blog
Amen, Nanchi. One example from my own life came to mind immediately, concerning a teaching job I wasn’t offered after the interview. A couple of months later a much better position became available and I was hired for that one. I don’t know about deserving it, but God blessed me anyway. Thank you for adding your thoughts to the discussion!
I too have been thinking more about the promises of God these past weeks. I always here him gently say to my heart. Trust me. and it relines and calms my heart.
You brought to mind the old hymn, “Trust and Obey,” Jean. “What a glory he sheds on our way,… with all who will trust and obey!” Thank you for the reminder, dear friend!
Yes, the wait can definitely cause doubts or even discouragement. I’m going to bookmark this one so I can come back to it when I need some reminders. Thanks for sharing! ☺
Praise God you found the post meaningful, Tina!
The current state of the world with all of the uncertainty and sin sometimes weighs heavily on my heart. I tend to focus on all that’s wrong in this world. Even knowing and believing that God’s in control, I get anxious, a constant battle in my mind. John 16:33 is one of my go-to verses: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He has already overcome this world! A promise already kept…no matter how I ‘feel’! Praise his Name!
Good point, Cheri: the promises have already been made; they WILL be kept no matter how we feel. Thank you for your added insight!
One of the benefits of being…ahem…”of having accumulated more years than most” (how’s THAT for avoiding the “o” word!) is that the number of promises kept so far outweighs the ones that appeared not to be that doubt no longer has room to land. One of the other benefits of “more years than most” is the ability to see how the apparent unkept promises were actually blessings in disguise or promises just kept in a different way. Ann Voskamp summed it up for me when she wrote: No matter what…no matter what…God is always good and I am always loved.” At the tender age of 74 those two things are becoming all I need in my journey with Him.
BEAUTIFULLY said, MHK, and you are so right. Sometimes in hindsight we see unkept promises proved to be blessings in disguise. And until we’re in heaven with him, it’s a supreme comfort to know He is always good and we are always loved–no matter what. Hallelujah!
This has always been a favorite: 1 John 4:18
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…”
NKJV
How wonderful that you have such a dependable husband! What a gift from the Father 🙂
That is a wonderful promise to cling to, especially since the Source of perfect love is God himself. P.S. And you are right, Jennifer: it IS wonderful to have a dependable husband!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Nancy,
Glad God is way maker, miracle-worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness
That sounds like the beginning of a song, Gary! And yes, every one of those titles for our God is glad news!