“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”   Matthew 16:24

My husband and I have more grandchildren than you would imagine. And, we have had more scares with their health than you would imagine. As we recently saw the birth of one of our PRECIOUS grand daughters, there was a brief period of fear. It caused me to reflect on God’s promises and in some instances, the lack thereof. There are some things that God Doesn’t Promise.

I stepped back for a moment and looked at some of these things that God does and does not promise.

God Doesn’t Promise:

A life without struggles – John 16:33 -I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

He does, however, promise – Hebrews 13:5 – “Never will I leave you, nor will I ever forsake you.” 

God Doesn’t Promise – Earthly success – For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:62

He did, however, promise – Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” 

God Doesn’t Promise – “that our children will follow after Him all their lives. Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.” Proverbs 20:11

God does promise that a Godly woman’s children will…”Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:” It does not say that she will live to hear it, it just says that it will happen ; )

God does not promise that this life will be “fair” – “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.” Proverbs 22:16

He does promise – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10

God Doesn’t Promise – that once we die we will automatically get in to heaven. “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21.

He does, however, promise – “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10.

God’s word is full of promises, but to experience them Jesus must be Lord of our lives. We are going to have trials, but He is right there with us through them. We will not all have earthly success, but if we will trust Him we will shine (like the noonday sun) with His righteousness. Our children may struggle in their walk with Him, but if we have raised them to love Him it says they will turn back to Him…ours, who struggled, did (thank you Jesus). This life will not be fair and just but those who promote injustice will stand before Him and give and account. We will not all be in heaven for eternity, but our separation from God will be of our choosing.

God desires to bless us and call us children of God (“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 ). God desires that none should perish. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

We all have choices to make and God’s desire is that we would choose Him.

I pray that today we would hunger after God and His word. That we would desire growing in wisdom and knowledge of Him. That we would bow down before Him and thank Him for His promises and for being a God that loves us enough to say “no”, when we ask for things contrary to His will and our good. I pray that today, we would love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds and souls.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and if you desire to know the one who promises eternal life (when we trust Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives), then I pray that you would go to our “Life Preserver” page (forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God desires to be (and will be) true to His word. He Does Promise! Once you have prayed this prayer, please reach out to me and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you and can help you grow in your knowledge of and relationship with our Precious Savior.

Luv ya!