The Truth About “The Promise”

I’m in a prayer group for women who are standing on the Lord’s promise to bring them the man He has chosen for them. Wow, just typing that first sentence makes me feel super vulnerable! I never want people to think I’m “thirsty” or “weak” in this area, but I’m finding the balance with being transparent about my own struggles. I’ve been super encouraged by this group, which consists of women over 30 who are married, divorced and single (never married). The married individuals are requesting prayer for their marriages, because, well, marriage is hard. Whether married or single, we are all brought together with this one desire: to receive God’s promises for our lives.

There are so many scriptures in the Bible that speak on this topic. God wants to bless His children. He LOVES to give them good gifts. And whatever our status in life is, whatever lot we’ve been given in whatever season, I firmly believe it is His BEST. Even when it hurts. Because He always works it for our good.

Years and years ago I was seeking Him for His promise in my career. I went through a slew of tests and trials. It was such a crazy emotional roller coaster ride, Holy Spirit equated it to Moses when he kept approaching Pharaoh to “let God’s people go”. Every time it looked like freedom was near, Pharaoh would change his mind and the Israelites continued on in slavery. That was the experience I had in my career and I was so drained by it. There were so many times I tried to break free myself (peace out Jesus, I’m done with this foolishness). Times I begged the Lord to open a door, but He kept on leading me through these various tests. Until one day, He led me to what He called my Promise Land. I was so grateful to make it to the Promise Land! I had grown so much through His tests and felt like I was shining brightly with His glory by the time I made it to this new assignment. I had been spending so much time basking in Him and seeking Him while I waited for His promise. But you know what? As time went on, I began to experience the same type of testing in this Promise Land that I experienced prior to it.

And the stretching continued even in His promise.

Recently I made a list of all the promises God made me and delivered on thus far. And I found that the theme in each event was that, yes the promise was good and brought me joy for a time, but it did not fulfill me. It also was tailor made in such a way that caused me to stay on my knees before the Lord. I finally see that although His promises are “yes, and yes, and amen”, they are also used to keep us growing in Him.

Growth often comes through pain and stretching.

I’m awakening to a lie I’ve believed about His promise of marriage for me. It’s easy to idealize (and even idolize) the promises of Yeshua, whatever they may be. Most people desire the promise because they believe it is better than what they currently have. BUT, the truth is that there is nothing fulfilling this side of heaven. His promises are good. They are His best. But His definition of best may look drastically different than our definition of best.

Can I say that again?

God’s definition of best may look drastically different than our definition of best.

His desire is to reveal who we truly are in Him. That means removing the false and dysfunction, which generally occurs during tests and trials.

That being said, I’m still looking forward to the manifestation of His promise in my life. It has been a LONG wait and I want the reward! 😉BUT, I want to have the right expectation of what this promise will consist of. I want to avoid being discontent and discouraged when it doesn’t look the way that I thought it would. The way I have been discouraged in my career and other areas of my life.

So I want to end in a short prayer here that may also be applicable for you:

“Thank You Father for being for Your children. If You are for us who can be against us? Thank You for ALWAYS giving us Your BEST and withholding no good thing from us. Thank You for using time in my life to bring forth maturity, wholeness and wisdom 😊. Your ways are higher than ours but they are also better and in this journey of victory You always cause us to triumph.”

SHALOM