Promises

by Karen Kurth

“God appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your children.’ Abram built an altar at the place God had appeared to him.” (Genesis 12:7, The Message)

Yesterday, if you had asked me if I thought that God was a promise keeper, I would have quickly retorted, “Yes.” If you had asked me which of God’s promises I clung to, I would have said:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV)

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2-3, ESV)

Yet, I could not put pen to paper.

Today, I woke to know my deceitful heart. Quite a few years ago, in two separate and painful situations, God promised me two things. Time has passed and these two promises look more impossible than when God first spoke.

“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’ Then the word of the LORD came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then He said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:2-6, NIV)

What do I do when God’s promises go unfulfilled? I return to what I KNOW. God is NOT a liar.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)

I place my attachment to the promises on the altar. I wait. I rest in God’s sovereignty.

Warmly in Christ,

Karen Kurth

For reflection:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)

• Do you have a disappointment? Have you been waiting long for an answer to prayer? Share your heart with God.