At times, during a difficult season or storm, God’s promises are hard to remember, let alone to grasp and hold onto.
On an early morning trek around the track, I jogged out from under tree cover and looked up, surprised to see a rainbow. Surprised because it hung in the western sky early in the morning, as opposed to the eastern sky in late afternoon, when most storms roll through leaving the color-filled bow. A dark cloud covered the very center of the display, making only a portion of the rainbow visible.
Stopping for a moment to soak in the sight, I reflected on the rainbow’s purpose. A symbol of the promises of God; specifically to never again destroy the earth with a flood, but also proclaiming all His promises true and dependable, lasting from the moment spoken through all generations. Even descriptions of God’s glory include a rainbow (Ezekiel 1:28 and Revelation 4:3)*. Derek Kidner, an Old Testament scholar, shares this beautiful reflection:
“The obvious glory of the rainbow against the gloom of the cloud, seems enough to make it a token of grace, even without the reflection that it arises from the conjunction of sun and storm, as of mercy and judgment.”
But. Like the clouds covering a good portion of this morning’s rainbow, our storms threaten to conceal from the eyes of our heart, the promises of God which give hope and deep reassurance.
However, even on our darkest days, in the middle of our storms, His promises do not depart. Though hidden in part from our perspective, though we may not be able to see the total spectrum of glittering colors, the fact remains the truth, trustworthiness, and hope of His promises stand firm. When we allow the Son to shine on the content of our dark clouds, we begin to take in the radiant display of chroma declaring His promises: for salvation, freedom from addictions, deliverance from sin and evil, material provision, hope for wandering family and friends, physical and relational healing, fear and anxiety conquered, strength and increased power, His presence with us at all times and forever, to name a few.
Paul tells us “no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) He means this: had Jesus never come, we might have doubted the tremendous promises of God, and might have argued they are too good to be true. But a God who loves us so much that He gave us his Son is quite certain to fulfill every promise He ever made. Jesus is the personal guarantee from God that the greatest and the least of His promises are all true. (William Barclay)
So, just as a literal rainbow can stop us in our tracks, stealing our breath, and filling our hearts with wonder; pausing to reflect on the unfailing promises of our Abba Father, can stop us in our downward spiral, steal our doubts away, and fill our hearts with courage and hope to get through our hard. For His promises have been thoroughly tested (Psalm 119:140) and proclaimed trustworthy (Psalm 145:13b).
Go ahead. Take a step of faith onto the solid rock of His words of promise. Reading through the Word, highlight any promise you find in a bright color so that when you are at the end of your rope and your faith is on shaky ground, surfing through the pages you will be encouraged, strengthened, and grasp renewed hope. These will get you started in your quest to discover God’s promises. Make them personal assurances by speaking your name at the beginning of each.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1
“Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
“ ‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,’
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 54:10
“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
Plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:36
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7
“And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28
“If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
I John 1:9
*If read on-line (vs. email), holding your cursor over a scripture reference will produce a pop-up of the scripture.
Photo by Francesco Ungero on Unsplash
