Promises

Last weekend Jason and Hayley got married. They made their wedding vows:

‘… to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part…’

They promised sincerely. They meant every word. We all believed them and pray for them in their future.

Musing randomly around promises…

Promises have to be realistic. I like the wedding vows. They don’t promise everything will be wonderful, that we’ll all live happily ever after. They say that we don’t know how life will turn out, but I still promise…

Promises involve humility. I’m impressed by my addict friends. They make promises about staying clean, but know they are only one step away from returning to their old ways. Past disappointments and failures make them aware of their own weaknesses.

Promises can’t be made lightly. Friends say, ‘I promise I’ll always be there for you.’ Parents say, ‘I promise things will be all right at school today.’ Christians say. ‘I promise I’ll pray for you every day.’ They mean well but make promises they can’t or won’t keep.

Promises are sometimes broken. Sometimes it’s deliberate, sometime accidental; sometimes it’s due to changing circumstances beyond our control. Promises may have been meant at the time. But… the promises are broken

Promises only work if there is mutual trust. I want to trust everybody and think the best of everybody but some people have let me down once; some have let me down repeatedly. This is not judgement – it is observation and fact. Trust is earnt or lost.

I’m still musing on Psalm 91… promises by God for his people… personal, for me… ‘I will protect him… I will answer him… I will be with him in trouble… I will deliver him…’

My experience is that God is trustworthy; he has both the ability and character to keep his promises.