Where do you turn when things get tough in life? If you turn to the promises of God, your hope is in a safe place. If you turn to anything other than the promises of God, your hope is like building a house on sand.
Hebrews 6:17–20 (ESV) — 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
God cannot lie because in addition to being Holy, He has no reason to lie. In fact, He declares in His word that He works all things after the counsel of His will and if He wills something, it will come to pass for sure!
Ephesians 1:11 (ESV) — 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Isaiah 46:9–11 (ESV) — 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
So let’s bring this home to facing the difficulties of life since we all do at one time or another face difficulties of various and sundry sorts. Let’s go to some promises in statement and precept that will hold us “rock steady.”
Consider the words given to the people of Israel after they had left Egypt, words given to Jacob as he began to fulfill the roll that God ordained for him, and words given to Joshua as he prepared to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. In these verses you’ll find a common thread of promise from God, that He will not leave or forsake His people.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV) — 6 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.”
Genesis 28:15 (ESV) — 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Joshua 1:5 (ESV) — 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
David comforted his son Solomon, and Isaiah comforted the people of God with similar words of promise.
1 Chronicles 28:20 (ESV) — 20 Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.
Isaiah 41:17 (ESV) — 17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
As you consider this thread of promise from God, no wonder the writer of Hebrews admonishes us to avoid finding our own solutions. Rather, enjoy contentment in the promise of God, thereby knowing the truth that if God is for you who could be against you?
Hebrews 13:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Romans 8:31 (ESV) — 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Sometimes we refuse to be comforted because we seem to downplay the promises of God despite the description by Peter that they are precious and very great promises. In that case we are much like Job who during complaining turned his back on God’s comfort in His promises.
2 Peter 1:4 (ESV) — 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Job 15:11 (ESV) — 11 Are the comforts of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?
Are the comforts of God small with you? If they are by reason of neglect or failure to rely upon them, then you’re turning to something else to sustain your hope. Anything, however, other than God and His promises is like building your house upon sand. Be encouraged today for whatever you face God has promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you and that’s a rock upon which you can build your life and be safe in times of a storm.
Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV) — 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
