Let's ponder a hypothetical situation for a moment. Let's say I call you up on the phone, and tell you that you didn't realize it before, but I had sponsored a drawing between all readers of this blog. Let's say I had chosen a random reader to receive a lump-sum gift of one million dollars. Though there might be a flash of hope and a temptation to start dreaming of how you might spend that million dollars, the more sensible you would quickly start doubting. If you know me at all, your first question would be "where did YOU get a million dollars to give me?" If you REALLY knew me, you'd expect some kind of prank. Though I might be teasingly offended that you would doubt my offer, neither one of us would truly believe my "promise".
Why would you doubt my ability to follow through on my promise? Because you know me, my capabilities, and my character. In truth, if you really know me and my scatter-brained-ness, you'd probably have reason to doubt the promise of a simple phone call!
We learn from experience with people in our lives to be skeptical of promises. If someone has done more to earn my trust, I may actually count on them to keep their promises. After a disappointment, though, I'm reluctant to fully trust – I make sure that I have a back-up plan, just in case their best efforts fall short. Sometimes I reserve my hopes until more evidence is disclosed that their promise really WILL be kept. I'll admit, sometimes I'm actually quite jaded in my outlook on life. Having been gullible one-too-many times, I try to protect myself by not fully trusting (just wait til my brothers are around, and I don't even walk around a corner without checking to make sure they don't have a surprise waiting for me!).
These are mostly healthy responses to life and the people in it. But how often will my responses to humans be identical as my response to God? When GOD says he will always be with me (Hebrews 13:5), do I project the same qualities onto Him, as I do to my friend or family member? Maybe my friend said she'd be there for me no matter what, but when I need someone to talk to, she has family obligations that demand her attention, and my needs are (rightfully) placed behind theirs on her priority list. Do I then subconsciously assume that when God says HE'LL be there, HE really means that He'll be there for me unless someone else with a bigger need or higher on his priority list needs him more? How does that change my actions? Will I neglect prayer at a time of trouble, because it's not THAT big of a deal? Will I try to solve those "little" problems by myself and in my own power? How else might this change my behavior?
Who IS this God who makes these promises? Who is the one who says He will never leave me nor forsake me? Who is the one who says he will supply ALL my needs according to his riches in glory? Is this just one more person who will let me down?A promise is only as good as the promise maker.
Let's think about this God for a moment.
This God is the same one who introduced himself to Moses and the Israelites as "I AM".
This is the same God who isn't even mentioned in the book of Esther, yet is the main character, having rescued an entire nation using a beauty pageant and sack cloth.
This is the same God who stopped time for three hours so that he could provide victory for the Israelites.
This God is the same God who challenged Job with the question "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" in Job 38.
This is the same God who used an earthquake to preserve the lives of his apostles in prison.
This is the same God who used kings, shepherds, and prostitutes to keep his PROMISE of a Messiah.
So… ya wanna tell me again why you don't think he can handle keeping his promise to provide for all your needs? Oh yeah, and while you're at it, why can't he handle being "there" for you 24-7?
I ask these questions tongue-in-cheek, as it's a challenge to me, too. It's easy to SAY that God is powerful enough to do anything. I mean, what are the first "Sunday School answers" that you learn? "Who does God love? EVERYBODY?" Then, "what can God do? ANYTHING!!!!" But how do you apply this in your own life? Here's my challenge for you. Go through the promises that he brings to mind (use our small list on the side bar as a starting point), and make a confession to God. Tell him that "I know that you CAN handle this." Oh, and here's a bonus for you: Read through your worry list… er, uh, prayer list (just kidding – I KNOW that not all your prayers are worries). The catch is, that after every prayer request, have a heart-to-heart with God, confessing "I know that you CAN handle this". No, it doesn't mean he's gonna handle it that way that you want him to handle it, but have you been limiting God, and then acting on that limitation? Don't worry, I'm not one of those self-talk, name-it-and-claim-it promoters – if you got THAT out of this challenge, I've messed up big time! Rather, this is your challenge to take those doubts that you've had, whether consciously or otherwise, and face them – REPLACE THEM with the truth. This week as God brings to mind another promise or two, ask him to help you to truly trust Him to keep that promise.
Maybe this has challenged you. If you're really honest with God, you'd confess that you DON'T know that He can keep his promises. Maybe someone has hurt you before in such drastic fashion that you don't think that you CAN trust him. Here are two things that you need to know. 1. He still keeps his promises whether you can trust Him or not. And, 2. You can be honest with him – admit that you don't trust Him – but don't stop there: ALSO ask for his help TO trust him. I'm thinking that's a prayer to which he'll answer a hearty "yes!"
I'll wrap this up with a song that Duane and I have obsessed over on occasion. I believe the lyrics come heavily from the book of Job, where after all of the struggles of Job and his friends, God finally answers them. He answered with even more questions than I'VE proffered today, but as we sing these words, it can't help but culminate in heart-felt worship of the greatest promise maker AND keeper of all time. Would you watch this video and worship with me?
