Every day, a million voices are vying for our attention and our affection; for our hearts and our hope…and the loudest voice wins. Since our Fall in Eden, both the state of the human heart and the promise of redemption have not changed. However, as we now live in the age of information, we spend our days tethered to nonstop updates, many which are designed to fill us with narratives of blame and panic. In the midst of all of this, Jesus gives us:
Peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Love that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).
Hope that overflows by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
Joy Unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8-9).
Joy is OURS in the Gospel, but we often need to change the station we are authorizing to give us our information. In this and the next blog post, I am sharing 30 of God’s Promises that make my soul radiate with hope. Spend some time this week slowing down and letting these take root in your heart. All the joy you could ever need is already YOURS in Christ. It’s a fruit of belonging to Him and it is your inheritance, forever! May you go in grace as you activate it anew today!
GOD IS WITH YOU:
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God.” Isaiah 43:1-3
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10
Notice that God never promises that we won’t go through turbulent waters or that we won’t face the fires of circumstances that feel like they shake us to our very core. The testimony of Scripture is indeed that we are “destined for trials” (1 Thessalonians 3:3), that “in the world we will have trouble” (John 16:33), and that “everything that can be shaken will be shaken” (Hebrews 12:27). Our hope is that we are going to make it to the other side of the fire, fully refined, because of the One going WITH us. He created you. He formed you. He redeemed you. He called you by name. He is pouring out compassion on you. He will be with you. Forever, He says, “You are MINE.” You’re gonna make it, beloved one.
GOD IS DEFENDING AND DEFINING YOU:
“The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:17-22
“No weapon forged against you will prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17
Satan is the accuser and is continually at work to isolate, oppose, hinder, and attack every good purpose God has for us. God never promises that our enemy won’t form weapons against us or speak accusing words to us. He most certainly will. But our God promised that our enemy’s weapons are defective and destined to fail, and that his words will be shoved right back into his mouth. They won’t prosper. What the enemy intends to deflate you, God will use to DEFINE you. You can keep your eyes on your Father, confident that He will establish and mature the heritage He’s begun in you.
GOD IS RESPONDING TO EVERY TURNING OF YOUR HEART TOWARD HIM:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” John 8:36
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
I love the “if…then” promises of Scripture. The truth is simultaneously that God is at work doing MORE than we could ask or imagine AND that He is actively partnering with our every movement of our faith, love, and obedience to Him. If we could see from heaven’s perspective, we would rest and delight in the awareness that God’s pursuit of our hearts burns far hotter and brighter than any turning of our gaze toward Him. Like the prodigal son’s father, He stands waiting for the slightest turn of our head toward Him, wherein He bridges the distance of every wayward second, every time. He is SO for you.
GOD IS HOLDING YOU IN TENDER COMPASSION:
“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:9-10
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.” Psalm 68:5-6
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16
Growing up, I held a view of God that was harsh, demanding, and distant, expecting me to get my act together already, or else. This abusive view of God is unworthy of the Cross of Christ. Jesus, who came as the shining radiance and exact representation of who the Father, Son, and Spirit have always been came to tear the veil of shame from our eyes so we could finally see. God has always been tender and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He is near in our troubles and has already carried our every heartbreak on His shoulders. We can run to His throne, knowing that He understands, He cares, He is able, and He holds it and us together in unbroken delight.
** Follow the NEXT Blog for Part 2 of "Bible Promises for HOPE in a Broken World!
These scriptures and your encouraging words that follow are food for my soul. Thank you.