We can trust God’s promises because He’s faithful to keep them. Two symbols of promises touched my heart last weekend.
Here’s my story.
Late Friday afternoon, Ray and I drove twenty-five miles to our favorite restaurant, a quaint, upscale café. As we held hands to pray over our anniversary dinner, I noticed our wedding rings—symbols of the promises we’d made years ago.
After a delicious meal and dessert, we recalled and laughed about our early marriage misunderstandings. The first occurred several months after our wedding.
Ray had promised this ready-for-Christmas-in-September girl we’d get a Christmas tree when he returned home from work. Filled with seasonal cheer, I watched for his car. When he arrived, I climbed into the passenger seat. He looked puzzled. “Why did you get into the car?”
“You promised we’d buy a Christmas tree today. Aren’t we going into town to find one?”
He chuckled, opened the car door, and called me to follow him. We walked through a pasture on his family’s property where we lived and stopped at a fence. He pointed to a row of cedar trees. “I didn’t say buy a tree. I said get a tree—one of those.”
“Get a tree” to this city girl meant traveling to a store or Christmas tree stand. To my raised-in-the-country husband, the translation was “cut a tree we already have.” We finished our coffee and laughed at the memory of a promise made and kept before our first Christmas season.
We paid our bill and left the restaurant. A gentle rain quickened our steps to the car. Soon, my husband navigated a sharp curve in the road, and we spied the evening’s second symbol of promise.
Clouds obscured part of the rainbow’s arch, but the visible portion looked as if God painted one broad brushstroke of the spectrum’s colors onto a rain-soaked sky canvas. A striking sight.
After the flood, God described the rainbow to Noah as a symbol of His promise.
When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Genesis 9:14-15 ESV
The rainbow represents one of God’s promises, but His Word contains many. As we admired the beautiful streak of color for several miles, we thanked God for His faithfulness. No translation is needed for His promises.
When I fret about how I’ll accomplish my to-do list or which choice to make when decisions arise, God’s promises calm my heart and turn my eyes toward Him. He shows me whether I’m trusting Him or myself. Concerns about the future that trouble my heart, shrink in the light of His Word.
Here are truths about life with God I’ve studied lately.
We don’t walk alone. He promises His presence, strength, and help.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
He assures us of wisdom for trials.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
James 1:5 ESV
Jesus offers supernatural peace in a troubled world.
“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.”
John 14:27 ESV
Our wise Father knows our needs and provides for them.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.”
Psalm 84:11 ESV
Do you need a promise from God today?
On a card, write one of these promises or another you find in the Bible. Keep the card handy to read and pray when troubling thoughts arise. God’s Word is a symbol of His faithfulness you can cling to as you trust Him.
Ray and I noticed two symbols of promise last weekend—our wedding rings and the rainbow. Symbols are important, but they are only reminders of God’s faithfulness. We don’t place our faith in signs or in life events. Our heavenly Father asks us to trust Him.
We can trust God’s promises because He’s faithful to keep them.
We can trust God’s promises because He’s faithful to keep them. Share on X
How has a promise of God sustained you? What’s your favorite? Perhaps one of us needs the one you’ll include in your comments today. Let’s brighten each other’s day with God’s words.
A heart-felt thanks to each of you, reader friends, for reading and leaving a comment.
God gave me Genesis 50:20 where Joseph told his brothers who did evil toward him that God meant it for good to bring about the salvation of many people. This sustained me through the loss of our business and personal bankruptcy due to an embezzlement crime by our bookkeeper years ago . God has restored us in many ways and allowed me to share how He worked in many ways through a terrible time in our lives.
Donna, what an amazing testimony of God fulfilling His promise to care for you. I’m thankful you are sharing your story to illustrate His goodness. Your comments made my day and reinforced what I’ve been studying. Thank you.
This is such an encouraging post, Jeannie. Thank you for writing it. I love what you said – God’s promises need no translation. We can count on them!
I’m glad you found the post encouraging, Katy. I need to study God’s promises more to help me fight the enemy’s negative thoughts. We an always count on God’s faithfulness.
Very encouraging. Thank you. My held-to promise from God is Jeremiah 29:11. When I feel “less than,” I know that’s a lie from the enemy and I smile and snuggle up to my daddy Abba.
Molly Jo, I love your response to God’s promise to equip you to fight the enemy’s deceitful thoughts. We can always run to Him and trust His faithfulness and His promises. I appreciate your comments so much.
“Concerns about the future that trouble my heart, shrink in the light of His Word.” Amen, my sweet and wise friend!!! Amen. I need to keep this thought in my mind continually. Thank you. Love these stories!!! And your great encouragement.
I also need to keep that thought in my mind, Jean. Sometimes I listen to the voices of fear and worry too long before I hold on to the promises of our faithful God. Thanks for stopping by to share.
What an uplifting and inspiring message, Jeannie! Thank you for “brightening my day” and sharing comforting words from Scripture. Congratulations on your anniversary! I enjoyed the Christmas tree story. When I was a child, our tree was always a cedar from our farm. I didn’t know there was any other kind of Christmas tree.
Katherine, I love that you had cedars, too. I learned so much living in the country during the early days of our marriage. You probably would smile at all my husband had to teach me. 😉 Thank you for reading and sharing part of your story.
God promises His guidance when we depend on Him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6)
That’s very comforting to me, especially when things don’t seem to make sense.
Thank you for your post!
Glenda, the passage you included is one of my favorites. Thank you for including this statement: “ God promises His guidance when we depend on Him.” He’s always faithful.
Another stellar post ma’am. You are truly a “weaver of words.” As you recalled the ways you and Mr. Ray have kept God’s promises to each other through the years, I couldn’t help but think of some of those same things (although not steep curves and CHRISTmas trees) in my own marriage, even though Ms. Diane and I have only been married half as long. Throughout my life though, there’s never been anyone who has kept their promises with the same fidelity as God has. I often pray His words back to Him, not to remind Him of His promise, but to remind me of it. There’s never been a single promise He’s made that He hasn’t kept. One of the many reasons to praise God. Thank you sweet sister.
J.D., thank you so much for your affirming message. Praying God’s words to Him is an excellent practice, and as you said, is for our comfort. Yes, His faithfulness is one of the many attributes for which we can offer praise.
Thank you for reminding me of these promises from God, Jeannie. I, too, worry about my to-do list, decisions needing to be made, and the future, but I need to often be reminded that God is always with us to guide and light our path. Thank you!
Kathy, I’m glad the reminders were as helpful for you as they are for me. Reading the Word, and as J.D. mentioned, praying God’s words back to Him, remind us of His faithfulness on which we can always depend. Thanks so much for your comments.
Thank you for reminding us in such a tender way of our promise-keeping God. Don’t you just love Him?
Yes, Lori, the longer I know Him, the more I love Him. His faithfulness helps us trust His promises. Thanks for stopping by.
My go-to promise is in Romans 8:28; “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” I have recited these words many times throughout my life. Thanks for the great reminder that God has given us many promises to help up in troubled times.
Thank you, Yvonne for sharing that comforting promise. We all need reminders. I think memorizing Scripture is the best way to keep His promises.
Jeannie, Happy Anniversary! What lovely gifts to enjoy on your anniversary- dinner, memories, and a rainbow. I appreciate the powerful point you made with your closing sentences -“Symbols are important, but they are only reminders of God’s faithfulness. We don’t place our faith in signs or in life events.” Beth
Welcome, Beth. Thank you for joining us and leaving a comment and anniversary wishes. We had a lovely celebration and the reminder of God’s promises was like icing on the cake. I’m glad you agree our trust is only in God who is faithful.
With so many wonderful promises its hard to pick just one favorite.
One all-time favorite of mine is know God will never leave nor forsake me.
Also:
“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.” John 14:27
Security and peace — who could ask for more?
This is a wonderfully encouraging post. Thank you, Jeannie.
Connie, thank you for including your favorites. What treasures we have in these. I’m glad you found the post encouraging. Reading God’s promises encourages me, too.
I’m so thankful God is a faith promise-keeper. From your list God is using Psalm 84:11 to minister to my current need. Thank you for sharing these verses. Happy 50th anniversary!
Annie, I’m delighted to know God is blessing you in a current need with promising Scripture. Isn’t it reassuring when He gives us exactly what we need? Yes, as you said, He is a promise keeper. Thanks for your anniversary wishes. We enjoyed a wonderful celebration!
Such an encouraging post, Jeannie. What a wonderful reminder to trust in Him in all things. He is always faithful.
I’m glad you found the post encouraging, Dawn. The verses God showed me encouraged me, too. You’re right that we can always trust Him because He is always faithful to keep His promises. Thank you for stopping by.
It’s so good to think about the promises of God. Too often, our eyes stray to what is wrong, lost, hopeless, but God is greater. He’s faithful. He’s the truth in a world of lies and I must choose to believe him.
Thanks for this such an encouraging post, Jeannie. Blessings to you.
Terri, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It’s easy to focus on negative news or the wrong thoughts, isn’t it? I agree with you we have to choose to trust God’s promises. Thank you so much for reading and leaving a comment. I enjoy your feedback and wise words.