The Certainty of God’s Promises

16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? – 1st Corinthians 1.

I’ve tried to think of times when someone has said something to me, but then did the opposite of what I said, or even promised something to me, but then did the opposite.

Many memories come to mind, but the one that stands out the most is what my father would say to me when I was a child.  “Do what I say, not what I do.”

I don’t remember a lot of the things my father did, only that he drank a lot and was always drunk.  I can’t even remember what drove him to say that constantly to me. I do remember observing his actions and often trying to copy him, as well as imitating my mum, but I often think back now, wondering what I imitated of my father to make him say that to me.

I know it couldn’t be imitating, with perfection, his “drunk walk” across the room much to the hilarity of other adults who witnessed my antics when doing this.  Was it that he wanted me to act better than him?

Other memories involved my mother promising me things, but them never coming to fruition.  I learned early on in life not to expect anything as it would only lead to disappointment.

To this day, when someone makes promises to me, I nod my head and smile.  I don’t expect the promises to happen.  If they keep their promise, bonus.  If they haven’t, well, nothing gained, nothing lost.  Mum’s early lessons in disappointment have saved me over the years.

18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas[c] and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. – 1st Corinthians 1.

23 I call God as my witness—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. – 1st Corinthians 1.

I never have to feel that way with God.  There’s never any disappointment when it comes to God’s promises.  With every prayer I’ve raised, even when I don’t realise I’m praying, even when I’m just talking to God in general, God answers my prayers.  Admittedly, not always the way I want them to be answered, but they ARE answered, nonetheless.

And even when the answers are not what I expected, even if they seemed like backward blessings to me (as in, more of a damnation than a gift), I later learn that what I thought was a curse or a punishment, turns out to be something that benefitted me in the long run, even if I didn’t see it at the initial time.

I would only be looking at my immediate future, whereas God saw the bigger picture, and every prayer answered, even the ones not meeting my expectations, turned out beneficial in the end.