When Others Let You Down, God is Faithful

When others let us down, God is Faithful.

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

“But you promised!”

Yes, but things change.

It was true. I had promised my kindergarten class extra time playing in Centers. Rain was in the forecast so I thought we’d have inside recess. But the rain held off, and the other classes were going outside, so I told my class to line out to go to the playground.

I thought they’d be pleased. And most were, except for one little boy who’d been waiting all day to go to the Lego center.

I looked at his downcast little face. He frowned and let out a Hmpf.

“Grown-ups never keep their promises.”

But what could I do? If I changed the recess plans again, I’d have at least a dozen other children protesting because they had their hearts set on going to the playground.

Yet my little fellow was right. As much as we try, we don’t always keep our promises. The betrayal he felt was, in his mind, a big deal.

And to him it was every bit as intense as betrayals I’d experienced as an adult—-betrayals that had ruined more than just afternoon plans. Betrayals that had snatched away life-long dreams.

Likewise, haven’t we all, at one time or another, grabbed on to promises spoken in apparent sincerity. Trusted those words were true. Marked them on our calendars. Arranged our lives around them.

I’ll call you.

We’ll get together.

I’ll take care of that for you.

You can count on me.

I’ll always love you.

Then we allow our hopes to soar… only to be deflated by promises unkept. Sometimes a broken promise brings a temporary twinge of disappointment. But sometimes it feels like someone’s pulled a chair out from under us, just as we were getting ready to sit down. We find ourselves flat on the floor, wondering what happened.

Promises You Can Count On

But God does not change. He doesn’t make promises he can’t keep because he purposes beforehand that he will keep them. God always does what he says he will do. He has it in his power to keep his promises, and it is in his character to be faithful.

And here are a few promises he makes:

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3 (ESV)

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

Also, because we don’t always keep the promises we make to ourselves, to God, and to others, we can take comfort in this promise:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 (ESV)

Have people left you feeling disappointed? Are you feeling betrayed? Alone? Abandoned? Take some time to memorize a promise in Scripture. Say it out loud to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness.

God will never leave you. He will never stop loving you. God will never break his promises. He cares about you. You are precious in his sight.

Father, I praise you for your unchanging faithfulness. I thank you for always keeping your promises. When I’m alone or discouraged, I will rely on you, for you promised never to leave me.

So when others let us down, remember, God is always faithful.