We were driving last week and two songs in a row mentioned
God’s promises. My 10-year-old piped up from the back, “Why are there so many
songs about promises?” Caught off-guard, I mumbled a sentence about God’s
promises being comforting as you get older and we kept driving. I realized
later how shallow my response was and how little it captured the impact God’s
promises have had on my life. They go beyond comforting me. Through different periods of my life, clinging to God’s promises has been the only way
to survive.
When I had a miscarriage ten years ago, I held onto Romans
8:28 (NIV): “And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose.”
I clung to Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) when I
struggled with secondary infertility: “For I know the plans I
have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans
for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days
when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find
me.’”
I repeated Psalm 146:9a
(ESV) as a social worker when I comforted devastated children being placed in
foster care: “The
LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless…”
I held onto
Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) when I felt drained after hearing stories of sexual
abuse and suffering from my counseling clients: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper
time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as
we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who
belong to the family of believers.”
 |
| Photo by Ben White on Unsplash |
When I watch the aftermath of a disaster
or a school shooting or tragic death, I cry and repeat John 16:33 (NIV): “"I have told you these things, so that
in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world.’"
Now that several of my friends have lost
parents and my own parents have struggled with health issues, I’ve clung to
Romans 8:23 (NLT): “And
we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a
foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin
and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us
our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has
promised us.”
When I'm exhausted, there are school projects due, I'm juggling two emotionally tiring jobs, and my children will. not. stop. bickering, I cling to Philippians 4:13 (ESV): "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
When I'm exhausted, there are school projects due, I'm juggling two emotionally tiring jobs, and my children will. not. stop. bickering, I cling to Philippians 4:13 (ESV): "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
As I’m currently in a transition period,
where I’m confused about which direction my career should go, I’m comforted by
Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV): “Delight yourself in
the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your
way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.”
As a child in Sunday school, the only
promise I remembered was God’s promise to not destroy the world again after the
flood. But as an adult, I’m overwhelmed by the number, depth and breadth of His
promises. They sustain me when I’m numb or overwhelmed. Sometimes they are the
only thing I can repeat when I’m reeling from tragedy or too anxious to coherently
pray.
During a dark time in my faith, I remember opening my Bible to Genesis
1:1 and telling God, “God, if you’re there, please show me that you are real
and who you really are.” As I read through Genesis, His promises took my breath
away. I realized that I served a loving, powerful, healing God and even better,
He loved me unconditionally. Knowing that He cares for me, loves me and has a
plan for my life that is better than anything I could imagine, allowed me to
drag myself out of the muck of depression, doubt, fear and insecurity.
For those of you who are struggling, questioning
why, devastated by a loss or recent diagnosis, or simply feeling lost and alone
as you navigate parenthood, my prayer is that God’s promises will give you
hope. That they will be a life raft in the midst of a chaotic and sometimes terrifying ocean.
I am daily reminded how much I need His promises.
I’m not good at memorizing scripture and without Google, I couldn’t even tell
you the verse numbers, but God has planted His promises in my heart to bolster
me, comfort me and strengthen me.
He will for you too.
This post was also shared in the amazing Moms Encouraging Moms group on Facebook!
This is a great post Hilary! Shared to our Facebook page at InstaEncouragements. Thanks for posting!
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Your journey through these verses beautifully illustrates the power of faith and the solace found in knowing that there is hope even in the darkest times.
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