Promises Made, Promises Kept

Promises made, promises kept. Lately, I have been hearing that phrase a lot on the news – Trump acolytes talking about his actions in office. Politicians make promises. That’s what they do. Wait a minute, I’m a “politician” (I hate that term) and I try to avoid making promises. I just work hard and listen.

This post will discuss far greater promises than those of bloviating political types. In my Bible study this morning, I came across the familiar verbiage – “God keeps his promises” – in the study notes. I know that. But nearly three decades after accepting Christ, can I enumerate that? Just what is it that God has promised me? And how am I even worthy to receive a promise from the Creator of the Universe?

God is not like iHeart’s Bob Pittman – some distant CEO in a starched, white shirt on a yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean, issuing edicts from afar to the peasants hard at work. (I tease Bob Pittman because, well, I made him money for twenty years and he doesn’t know my name, but that’s another post.) No, God is a loving Father, actively involved with us on the daily, keeping the promises He has made to see us through.

But even after nearly three decades of professing Jesus as my homie, I am still not fully sure I understand what those promises are. So I spent some time with God’s Good Word and put together a countdown, Casey Kasem style. Here are…

12 Promises from God You Can Take to the Bank

1. “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.”
   (Hebrews 13:5)
   (Why in my head does God suddenly sound like Winston Churchill?! Nev-uh. Nev-uh. Nev-uh!) When your phone pings unanswered and friends drift away, this promise is your anchor. No matter how alone you feel, God’s right there beside you, unfailing and unshakeable.
2. “Don’t be afraid… for I am with you.”
   (Isaiah 41:10)
   Fear is a sneaky thief—stealing peace and leaving us paralyzed. But when God says “I am with you,” He’s not making small talk. He’s pledging His presence to chase our fears away.
3. “I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you a future and a hope.”
   (Jeremiah 29:11)
   It’s the chosen verse of commencement speeches everywhere – so much so, it’s nearly colloquial. If you read the entirety of the book of Jeremiah, it’s not exactly a rosy tome. This verse is the cherry-picked sunshine in an otherwise gloomy part of the Bible. But it is God’s promise to us, nonetheless. Life might feel like a random sequence of chaos right now, but this verse reminds us there’s intentional design behind the scenes. Even when tomorrow’s blurry, trust His blueprint.
4. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
   (Jeremiah 29:13)
   Alright, there are a few more nuggets in Jeremiah. Feeling spiritually dry? God promises that wholehearted pursuit leads straight to His heart—no secret handshake required—just genuine, open-hearted seeking.
5. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”
   (1 Peter 5:7)
   My old boss used to say, “Scotty (you can’t call me ‘Scotty,’ but somehow, I let him), sometimes your mind can be a bad neighborhood.” He was right – worry and anxiety suck. Here’s God’s invitation: hand Him that mental caca. He cares too much to let us stumble under our own stress.
6. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
   (Romans 8:28)
   That’s not “all things sort of maybe could kinda work out.” That’s a confident guarantee: God’s orchestrating even the messiest moments for our ultimate good.
7. “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”
   (2 Corinthians 12:9)
   I still remember singing Jesus Loves Me when I was a kid in Sunday school. “They are weak, but He is strong.” There was a lot to those songs. When you’re stretched thinner than your monthly budget, God’s grace steps in, covering our shortcomings with His strength. In fact, His power shines brightest where we feel utterly powerless. Remember, this is about His glory, not yours. It’s okay to be weak.
8. “Come to me… and I will give you rest.”
   (Matthew 11:28)
   The world hustles, but Jesus invites us to pause. I grew up working on ranches and feedlots. That was hard work. As a Commissioner, I largely sit on my ass all day. So why am I more tired now than I was after a day of bucking hay?! Mental toil and worry are hard. Real rest isn’t just sleep—it’s the calm assurance that He carries the weight we weren’t meant to bear alone.
9. “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.”
   (Psalm 32:8)
   Direction matters. God doesn’t leave us guessing; He promises to map out the turns and signposts if we’re listening for His voice. Kinda like Siri, only way more accurate.
10. “His commandments are not burdensome.”
    (1 John 5:3)
    Following God isn’t a joyless checklist. His ways lead to freedom, not drudgery—because every “do” and “don’t” is designed to protect our best interests. All we have to do is what is right.
11. “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”
    (Psalm 23:1)
    Even in dry valleys or crowded hospitals, our Shepherd ensures we lack nothing essential. When resources run low, we remember Who provides. And He does!
12. “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”
    (Matthew 28:20)
    Crappy day. He is there. Highest of highs. He is there. Lowest of lows. He is there. Spouse leaves you. Parents die. Kids wander. You hit rock bottom. He is there! From the first breath to the last, His promise is a lifelong companionship—no fine print, no expiration date. He is there! Always!

But how am I even worthy of His promises?!

It is utterly astonishing that the Maker of Galaxies would stoop so low as to promise a slob like me anything – “for ALL have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard,” I’m nothing—a gnat. Yet the very heart of the Gospel is that God’s promises aren’t rewards for our merit but expressions of His unmerited grace. He LOVES us. And not that middle school, slow dance kind of love. With a love we can’t possibly understand until the day we worship at His feet.

He “freely declares us righteous” (Romans 3:24) and “saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:5). In other words, our “worthiness” isn’t earned—it’s granted the moment we ask Jesus to come in to our life. His broken body on the cross cashed the check we wrote, but couldn’t cover.

And because these promises rest on Christ’s perfect faithfulness, rather than our weak-ass selves, we can hold them like we own them – because we do. As the author of Hebrews encourages, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23). More than your middle-school crush. WAY MORE than a common, garden variety politician.

So when your lizard brain kicks in and doubt rears its ugly-but-reliable head, remember: you’re not inheriting God’s favor because of your bad self, but because you said yes to the One who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” That is why you can count on His promises – every single one.

And THAT is Good News.