I remember the first time I heard my daughter make the promise she’s repeated to her children many times. Lauren, her toddler, clung to her as she attempted to leave.
“Mommy’s going out for a little while, but I’ll be back. I promise.” She untangled Lauren’s arms from around her legs and gathered her up, pressing their foreheads together. Nose-to-nose and eyes to eyes, she said, “Mommy always comes back.”
And she has, over, and over, and over again.
This sweet ritual now encompasses not only Lauren but her three siblings. Sometimes, as my daughter walks out the door, she’ll begin the promise.
“Mommy’s going out for a while, but I’ll be back. I promise. Remember, Mommy . . .”
And the kids will finish it. “. . . always comes back.”
In the eleven years of coming and going, she’s probably repeated her promise hundreds of times. By God’s grace, it will always be true. But even if it isn’t, her children will always have a Parent who will always keep His promises.
Thousands of years ago, our Father God set the world in motion. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars. He planted a beautiful garden and gave it to the first man and woman. Like my daughter, He made promises to those He loves. Thousands of them.
He promised:
To send a Redeemer to save us from our sins (Genesis 3:14–15).
To never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8).
To instruct and teach us in the way we should go (Psalm 32:8).
To carry our burdens and give us rest (Matthew 11:28–29).
To infuse us with His strength when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).
To replace our anxiety with peace (Philippians 4:6–7).
To fight for us (Exodus 14:14).
To make all things in our lives work for good (Romans 8:28).
To walk with us through deep waters (Isaiah 43:2).
I’ve often wondered why God made promises. Isn’t the strength of His character enough to guarantee His care?
Absolutely.
But God’s promises give us something to cling to when life’s circumstances overwhelm us.
As I waited for scary medical test results, I held onto the promise of Psalm 23:4 (esv): “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
When my husband lost his job and we had no way to pay our bills, we clung to the promise of God’s care in Luke 12:24: “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”
When I struggled to discern God’s will and make the right decisions for my family, I claimed the promise of James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Memorizing God’s promises gave me tools to battle fear, doubt, and disbelief. Stepping out in faith based on them strengthened my faith muscles and gave God an opportunity to display His power and faithfulness. Meditating on them gives me glimpses of God’s character and overwhelming love for me.
One year, as I read through the Bible, I made a list of God’s promises. By the end of the year, I had written pages and pages. Many promises were conditional, like James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
Others were unconditional, like John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
God gave most promises to those who believe in Him, but, in His mercy, He also included some for those who’ve not yet come to faith. Perhaps the most famous, John 3:16, offers eternal life to all who would believe: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Now that my grandchildren are older, they seldom feel anxious when their mom goes away. They don’t fear that their mom will abandon them. Because she’s faithfully returned time after time, she’s earned their trust. They know Mommy always comes back.
I’ve grown older in my faith, but sometimes I still feel anxious. Will God abandon me? Will He fail to do what He promised? When I feel the tremors of fear, I recount the promises He’s given, remember His faithfulness to me in the past, and rest on His unquestionable character. My fears diminish, and peace fills my heart.
Some days, I think about Jesus’s promise to His disciples. “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 14:3).
This promise might just be my favorite. It tells me that Jesus is—right now—preparing a forever home for me.
It tells me I’ll spend eternity in God’s presence.
And it reminds me that, no matter what, Jesus always comes back.
—Written by Lori Hatcher. Used by permission from the author.
10 Responses
I pray for God’s peace to envelope you and his love to wrap you in his arms. He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you and that his plans for you are always for good to give you a future and a hope. Trust him. Cast all your cares on him because he loves you, ALWAYS, even to the end of time.
Stacey,
I will be praying for you!💕🙏
I don’t even know all of God’s promises, but I know enough to know that He is always with me and things will work out if I just hang in there. Giving up is not an option anymore. I have the illness of depression too and it used to control my life. Now, however, when depression comes I stick it out and pray to God and wait. I do things to keep it at bay while I’m waiting, like push myself to exercise, nurture myself and find fellow believers to talk to and not isolate. God always comes through. I like to write so I just wrote my first book. I opened myself up to vulnerability but it’s also been very freeing. My past no longer hurts me like it used to and I feel much closer to God. I’m so glad I didn’t give up.
Praise God that you have found the way to rise above your depression and to reach out for help. God does always come through!
Congratulations on your book!
Hallelujah!
This article is confirmation of what my Pastor taught us on yesterday. We are studying the Book of Genesis. Yesterday’s lesson was about the (7) Promises God made to Abram and us. It is amazing how after reading this article it gives an even greater light on God’s Promises to us, His Children today. I love the last sentence which reassures me that no matter what, Jesus always comes back.
It is a so comforting to know that…so reassuring and peacefully welcomed
Thank you for this message this morning. I needed to hear this, I’m struggling with being still and hearing from God. I struggle with fear, pain, hurt, grief, FORGIVINESS and trust. The fear of one day of not being able to pay my bills or not having a roof over my head. The pain and hurt I feel from being hurt by other people that I loved and gave my all and all too. The grief that I FEEL EVERYDAY from the loss of my mom (1981) when I was just 17 years old, the loss of my grandma (2003) and the loss of both of my breast due to breast cancer in 2010. I’m just grieving now, and it HURTS. The pain is so deep, I cry almost every day, because I miss my mom. When I need that motherly talk, when I need that hug comforting me, hearing her voice telling me it’s going to be alright. Having mother, daughter and grand-daughter days together (breakfast, day trips, vacations). My two children have never gotten the experience to know their grandmother. I have shown them pictures of her, but they have not gotten the opportunity to know her as they should.
Due to all this I have been put on Lexapro medication for anxiety. In addition, I now experience seizure activity occasionally due to stress. By me feeling down with the crying and feeling worthless because I can’t FORGIVE myself for my past mistakes. I got married to early in life (19) the man I married wasn’t who God wanted me to have. My life sucked, the only thing that I’m thankful for that I got out of this marriage is my two beautiful children. I couldn’t ask for anything more they are the BEST.
My past is hindering me from going forward because I can’t FORGIVE MYSELF, I FEAR, I DON’T TRUST, I HAVE PAIN, I HURT INSIDE.
Stacey Carter:::I speak peace and blessings over you right now. He hears, He sees and He is there to help you. May the comfort, peace and presence of Jesus overwhelm you right now. He loves YOU, you are the apple of His eye. 🌹
Love nhugs!
Dear Stacey, my heart breaks for you.
I know it’s hard, maybe even impossible to forgive yourself. But with God all things are possible and if He forgives us, (which He does when we ask) who are we to hold on to the regrets and mistakes and not forgive ourselves?
You have my prayers for your healing and restoration from all the hurts, pain, and dismay you have suffered. It’s okay to lament! But remember that God says He will never leave you or forsake you. And He keeps His promises. I praise God for your two beautiful children! Such joy🙏🏼🥰.
My thoughts are on you now and I’m praying. Bless you and may you feel His loving hand on you as you lean on His everlasting arms of comfort. Deut. 33:27 says “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms!
Lean on Him! Love to you and your precious children. A friend in Christ.