Promises shape the character and direction of our lives.

Some promises are small. “I’ll pick you up after soccer practice, I promise.” Others are big, like the ones people say during wedding ceremonies. “For better, for worse, in sickness, and in health…”

However, over time it is easy to get cynical about promises. We sometimes hear campaign slogans like “promise made, promise kept.” Since that isn’t always the case, we start to doubt people’s words.

Maybe someone has broken a promise to you. Or perhaps you have been the one to break a promise to someone else. Whatever the case, our experiences can taint our understanding about the importance of promises.

There are a lot of promises in the Bible. These, however, are different. They are made by God. Since he is always good, holy, wise, loving and true, his promises are trustworthy. Theologian J.I. Packer says: “The words of men are unstable things. But not the words of God.”* Very true. God’s promises are stable, even though the world around us wobbles. Psalm 33:4 says: “For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is trustworthy.”**

Here’s a question to ponder: Are we living as if God’s promises will definitely come true, or as if they might potentially come true?

It makes a massive difference in the character and direction of our lives. If we doubt his promises about eternity, we may be filled with fear about death and nothingness. If we doubt his promises about forgiveness, we may be plagued with shame or anxiety about judgment. If we doubt his promises about our purpose, we may start to despair about our value or the meaning of life itself. 

But if we trust his promises, we are led forward in peace, courage, grace, truth and purpose.

God’s word is stable. His promises are trustworthy. Are we living as if God’s promises will definitely come true, or as if they might potentially come true?

How we respond makes all the difference in the world. What would you rather have? Fear or faith? Timidity or courage? Despair or hope? Uncertainty or truth? 

“The words of men are unstable things. But not the words of God.”

Notes:

-“God’s unbroken promises in a broken world (Daniel 9).” Click here. Sermon. 
-*J.I. Packer, Knowing God (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1973), 83
-**The CSB translation of the Bible.