Promises we all make them, and we all break them.  Promise are powerful words, statements that we cling to when we are looking for hope, change, or a need or desired fulfilled.  I admit that I somewhat have a love hate relationship with promises.  I will start with hate.  The reason I hate promises is because sometimes they can be wells of disappointment.  As flawed, weak, and frail humans more often times than not we make unrealistic promises that we intend with all sincerity to keep, but at the end of the day we fail. 

“I’m going to _________________ this year”, (fill in the blank) we make them to ourselves, we make them to others, “I’m not going to do this ever again”, “I won’t be like my parents” there are countless empty promises at the end of the day, week, month, year that I care to count in my own life.  I don’t know about you, but there seems to be an over commitment, on my part at times, which causes me to let myself, and others around me down.  I won’t spend a lot of time here, I mean who really likes to sit in their failures and fling mud around like confetti and have a party?  However, healthy realization of our weakness can be freeing and cause us to pursue truth in our lives.

Proverbs teaches us that hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.  Me oh my, this lightens my soul and brings life to a well that was once filled with broken dreams and promises.  While I am busy making empty promises to others and myself HE stands waiting there in unfilled promises breathing life, HE IS always there, making promises that HE will fulfill for HE is the PROMISE. “God is not a human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.  Does he not speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”(Numbers 23:19)

Promises to myself, apart from HIM will leave me disappointed and I will always come up short. When we begin to fill our lives with the promises of HIS life and Word we will be like trees planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither- whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1) Hope is no longer deferred in Christ. 

Romans 4:18-21

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

See I like Abraham, am fully persuaded that God is able to do WHATEVER HE promises.  He is our HOPE.  He has come and freed us from broken promises to do better, be better, HE IS BETTER, and HE has overcome the world.  He lives in us fulfilling every promise he has made. He is the promise and He will complete the work He has begun in you and I.  He is the Author and Perfector of our faith.  I am FULLY convinced that nothing can stop HIM and HIS love for us! (Romans 8:37-39)