All of us have things in life that we want. Some of them even seem to line up with things that God says are good: Ability to provide for our needs through work, Have meaningful companionship, Get married, Have children, Feel like our lives matter, etc.
God hasn't promised we'll be married or have children or that
other people will change the way we want them to... Even when we read stories of conception and child birth to the barren (like Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 15-21), it doesn't mean that God promises to make that happen for everyone. So what promises does God make to us? Here are just a few:
God promises to forgive us for the things we do that drive wedges between us and Him and that make us people who bring decay to others (1John 1:9-11).
God promises to be with us always--in us and with us through His Spirit (Romans 8:11-15).
God promises to work all things
together for good if we love Him (Romans 8:28).
God promises to complete the work He begins in us when we first believe in Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
God promises not to tempt us beyond what we can handle (1Corinthians 10:13).
God promises to strengthen us so that we can make other people better (Romans 15:14).
This is just the beginning of the promises that are made by God to His children. Admittedly, some of God's promises are not pleasant, but painful. God promises that we will have conflict in the world and we will be persecuted (2Timothy 3:12). The point is that when we see the specifics of God's promises, it should change our
expectations. We can trust God's promises to be true and to come true. Outside of that, the Bible teaches us that we live in a broken world that is frustrating. Sometimes that brokenness comes from outside of us, sometimes that brokenness comes from within. Sometimes the brokenness is unintended results, sometimes there is intentional evil behind the brokenness. Sometimes the brokenness comes from things outside us, sometimes, it comes from within us. The promises of God are true and come true in the midst of our broken world and lives. This is what creates the tension of celebrating God's promises, while continuing to frustratingly endure the brokenness.
When we see what God actually promises, it radically adjusts our expectations. It helps us to see God more clearly in our lives because we stop looking for Him in things He
hasn’t promised. Then, we begin to see Him where in the promises He has made. This often takes real grieving—I
have so often in my life been confronted that some things in my life may never get
better, and so I’ve had to sorrowfully grieve and let go of those expectations.
It’s frustrating and confusing and painful, but after it’s done, life for me is
better, because I don’t have that rain cloud of disappointment hanging over me. Plus, seeing God at work where He has promised brings a joy and contentment because I feel like I'm finally on the same page with what He is doing in my life.
