February 24, 2002

How difficult it is to trust someone who breaks a promise to us! And, how heartsick we feel when we, ourselves, break a promise. This week's Scripture reminds us that for God, a promise is a promise.

"Will you come to my Christmas program mommy?" comes the tearful query. "I'll try." "Promise me!" the child pleads. You hesitate - "I promise." Parents know that each time we keep a promise it becomes easier for our children to trust us. We also know the pain of disappointing a child and the struggle to regain their trust when we have broken our promise. But God is not like us. God keeps every promise and gives us signs along the way that help us trust in God's promises even when things look impossibly bleak.

No doubt both Jesus and his disciples found courage for the frightening final journey to Jerusalem in His transfiguration - a foretaste of the glorious life that God promised them. Just so when Abraham and Sarah had to leave their homeland and put their trust in God, they must have looked on Sarah's pregnancy as a sown payment on God's promise of blessing. And, Jesus' disciples rejoiced in His resurrection as the FIRST FRUITS - a sure sign that God would save them, too, from any suffering they might have to undergo. In each instance, a sign of God's trustworthiness helped them trust in God's promise when all seemed to be lost.

At times in our life, we feel as though God has broken every promise to us. We feel our sin is too terrible for God to wipe a way, and our troubles are too heavy for God to roll away. But, we are wrong. God gave us a glimpse of Jesus' glorious life beyond the grave and the abundant life that awaits us. We can trust in God for whom a promise is a promise.

SO THE QUESTION: WHAT MEMORY DO WE HAVE OF A BROKEN PROMISE? WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE? WHAT SIGNS HAVE YOU RECEIVED THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO TRUST GOD?

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