Have you ever made a promise to someone and not been able to keep it? Perhaps you are like me, and you’ve heard the loud confrontation of “But you promised!” from a screaming child. We all make promises, but sometimes we are not able, for whatever reason, to fulfill them. Perhaps you’ve had a promise made to you and have been let down when it was not kept. As humans, we may have every intention to make and keep promises. But as mere humans, we will fail, we will let down, and we will inevitably break promises. We will hurt others and be hurt in return. This is not a promotion to break promises, but a simple understanding of our human nature.

I will never forget being vulnerable with a friend who had promised confidentiality. That broken promise was met with much regret, hurt, pain and lack of trust for others. After this happens, we tend to wonder if there is anyone we can trust. Is there anyone who can really keep a promise?

It’s here that Almighty God reminds us of Psalm 145:13

“You are the Lord who reigns over your never-ending kingdom through all the ages of time and eternity! You are faithful to fulfill every promise you’ve made. You manifest yourself as kindness in all you do.’

There is one, and only one, who can keep every one of His promises – God, the King of glory, who loves and cares for you more than you can imagine. He is the only true and perfect promise keeper.

If you feel weak, He promises to give you strength (Isaiah 40:31). If you feel purposeless, He promises that He has a perfect plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). If you feel scared, He promises to watch over and take care of you (Psalm 121). If you feel anxious, He promises to give you peace (John 14:27). If you feel neglected, He promises to be faithful (Lamentations 3:22-23). If you feel lost, He promised to send you a Saviour (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6).

The ultimate promise of a Saviour is fulfilled when Jesus came in humility as a babe wrapped in dirty cloths. He said He would send a sacrifice for you and me, so we could know the promise of eternal life. And He did.

I don’t know what promises to you have been broken. Or what hurt you carry from those times. But I pray that you would know that Jesus is a God that will keep each and every one of His promises. Every. Single. One.

I encourage you to look up the promises of our Father. Recite them daily, hold them close, and let them speak to your heart in the very moments you need them.