“I’ll be there. I promise.” And the person is a no-show.

“You can count on me.” And the word is not kept.

“I’ll do that for you tomorrow.” And the promise is forgotten.

Promises can be made through quiet words spoken with fingers crossed behind the back or by statements of conviction sealed with a firm handshake. Which do you trust?

When a promise is made, we expect it to be fulfilled. When fulfilled, the person receiving the promise is valued. If the promise is broken, the words are empty, leaving us disappointed and hurt. The person speaking it is discredited and the person receiving it is devalued. Broken promises are like glass shards in our hands, painful and sharp, leaving scars behind. We can live in the aftermath of broken trust for years.

How can we trust promises once we’ve been hurt? By turning to the source of solid promises, the Word of God. In 2 Peter 1:3-4 we read:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

It is mind boggling to imagine sharing in the holy nature of God, but that is what grace allows us to do. It does not mean we becoming god-like, but rather we can have a relationship with God through the promise of Jesus Christ. God reveals more of Himself to us, undergirded by His grace.

The grace of God helps us learn to trust God in a deeper way. I remember a time when an employer promised many good things—pleasant work conditions and regular pay increases. I believed they would come to pass. In reality, the opposite happened and things went from bad to worse. I knew I had to trust God even in the midst of the miserable situation. Turning to the Bible, I remembered God’s faithful character in the past, which then encouraged me to trust Him again. God’s promises gave me hope, changed my perspective, and directed my prayers.

The promises in the Bible are solid words of hope for the believer, like anchors to which a rock climber clings for life. Abraham received the covenant promise from God and grasped it until its fulfillment. David humbly accepted God’s word that one of his descendants would be on the throne forever. Mary believed the angel and gave birth to The Promise, Jesus Christ. The power of God’s grace enables the fruition of His divine promise. In other words, grace flows through God’s character to secure His promises. Because we have seen the declarations of God consistently completed in the past, we can firmly believe in them for today and the future. God is faithful to bring about the culmination of His promises.

God is faithful and true to His word. He sees the big picture, not just the day-to-day- struggles of life.

Do you need to strengthen your spirit today? Here some promises to encourage you.

• If you feel vulnerable, rest in the assurance of God’s protection “I am your shield.” (Gen.15: 1)

• If you don’t know what to do, seek the Lord for His guidance. “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Ps. 25:9)

• If you need empowerment to carry on, God pledges inner power and assures provision. “I will strengthen you and help you.” (Isa 41:10)

• If you are weary, He vows His rest. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

• If you are lonely, believe the promise of God’s presence. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b)

Through focusing on God’s unchanging nature and believing His word, our trust in Him grows. Realigning our attitude with God’s promises can bring order to a chaotic heart. We can inner stability when uncertainty shakes our world. By the grace of God our hope is restored through His promises.

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In a few months, Nancy will be hosting an online Bible study using The Grace Impact. If you are interested in more information about this opportunity, please sign up for her GraceNotesnewsletter at http://www.nancykaygrace.com.