This would ensure that your friend said what they meant and meant what they said and she couldn’t take it back.
And then of course we were devastated when our friend had yet another lame excuse for why they had to break their promise.
Can you relate?
I don’t know about you, but at least half of my friends couldn’t be trusted to keep a promise anymore than an alligator could keep from biting.
Maybe your broken promises came from key relationships, like a boyfriend, your church, or even your own parents.
So, when God makes a promise, it’s no wonder why we have a hard time believing it. After all, if most people never fulfill their promises, why would God?
I love the way David says it in Psalm 138:2: “I will give thanks to Your name for Your unfailing love and faithfulness because Your promises are backed by all the honor of Your name.”
God has nothing to gain from deceiving us, but we have everything to lose by not trusting Him.
I know it’s not always easy to trust God, especially when it feels like all chaos is breaking out in your life. But I have good news for you: God’s promises are always available to you for the taking. The key is, you must appropriate these promises for yourself, otherwise, it will be like a million-dollar check in your hand that you never take to the bank for cashing.
So, let’s talk today about 13 Biblical promises that God wants you to be confident in, and the life circumstances they pertain to.
Promise #1: When your life is falling apart
Sometimes it can feel like nothing in your life makes sense, like when you’re doing all the right things and all the wrong things are happening. In those cases, it’s imperative to hang onto the promise in Romans 8:28:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
I don’t know the who, the how, or the when, but I do know that He will work it all out for your good and His glory. If you are in Christ, everything you go through is Father filtered.
Promise #2: When you’ve gone too far from God
There are times in life when you will feel like you are too far gone for God to want anything to do with you. Perhaps you keep slipping back into the same sin or you’ve circled the mountain too many times to feel like God will ever give you another chance.
1 John 1:9 is a beautiful promise for when you want to get back into a relationship with Him. It says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God wants nothing more than to be in the right relationship with you, and He’s made it so simple.
Promise #3: When your prayers aren’t being answered
Do you ever feel like your prayers are just bouncing off the sky?
When it feels like your prayer requests are getting ignored, it helps to hang on to the promise found in John 14:13-14:
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
God promised that if we ask anything that is in line with the character of God and His purpose, He will answer. I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but I do know He will answer your prayers.
Promise #4: When you feel God has gone missing
There are times when the sweet presence of the Lord invades the atmosphere and there are other times when it feels like God is a million miles away. It’s during those times that it’s crucial to hang on to the promise found in Hebrews 13:5:
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
If that’s not enough, remember Deuteronomy 4:29:
“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
God promises that if you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. So cleanse your hands and purify your heart, and step into the beautiful presence of the Lord.
Promise #5: When toxic people are getting the better of you
If you’ve ever felt completely depleted trying to do the right thing in a wrong relationship, exhausted by your fruitless attempts to speak the truth in love and have a healthy relationship, it’s important to pull from the Lord, as you will need His grace.
I like to rely upon Isaiah 30:18:
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.”
I know it can seem like an eternity when you are waiting on God to relieve you or revive you in these relationships, but good things come to those who wait on the Lord.
Promise #6: When anxiety is ruling your mind
Did you know that God has given you the promise of peace? Isaiah 26:3 reminds us:
“You keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because He trusts in you.”
So this means that when anxious, fear-filled, worrisome thoughts come in, you can simply turn your focus to the Lord and His peace will prevail. I’ve tried it, it works!
Promise #7: When people are oppressing or abusing you
It’s tempting to try and take matters into your own hands when someone has wronged you. Even if you’re not able to physically pay them back, sometimes your mind will attempt to take justice into its own hands by running the scenarios over and over again. But this only robs you.
Instead, trust the promise found in Romans 12:19:
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
God will fight for you, my friend.
Promise: #8 When you can’t make financial ends meet
I know what it feels like to have more months than money. I know what it’s like to wonder how God will make a way. But the next time you’re tempted to slip into worry, grab hold of Philippians 4:19:
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
My friend, He never leaves His children without support.
Promise #9: When you feel insufficient and inadequate
Have you ever looked at your situation or your goals and thought, there’s no way I can do this?
The truth is, you’re probably right. That’s why we need God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us of the grace that God gives you things, situations and people that you wouldn’t be able to do on your own. It says:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. My friend, forget self-confidence–embrace grace!
Promise #10: When you lack purpose
You were created with intentionality. God had a plan for your life before the foundation of the earth.
The promise of purpose begins in 1 Peter 4:10 when it says:
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
It may take a little discovery work on your part, but God has supplied you with everything you need to do what He’s created you to do.
Promise #11: When you feel weary and/or discouraged
I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t gotten weary and discouraged from time to time. Especially if you are trying to do anything of value for the Lord.
Sometimes we face tests and trials and other times temptations, but instead of giving in and giving up, hold fast to Galatians 6:9 when it says:
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
God rewards the diligent. Don’t give up.
Promise #12: When you feel like all hell is breaking loose in your life
I don’t know about you but there are times in life when it doesn’t just rain, it pours. If there’s anything that could go wrong, it does.
In those times, it can be tempting to think that God has forgotten you or that Satan is winning but God’s plan will always prevail. So hold firm to the promise found in Isaiah 59:19:
“When the Enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise a standard against him!”
God will fight for you.
Promise #13: When you can’t decide
The spirit of confusion is real and active and it looks to lead you away from God’s plan, purpose and promises by causing you to focus on the worries and what ifs.
Before you allow confusion to take over, remember the promise and the gift God has given you found in 2 Timothy 1:7:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
That sound mind is one that thinks like Christ and is filled with wisdom and clarity. Don’t let the enemy tell you otherwise.
These promises and many more are available to you for the taking. Dive into His Word today and begin to discover His promises for yourself.
What promise will you embrace today?
