The power of a promise.
My son Harrison was almost 11 years old and on August 1, exactly one month before his birthday, he jumped out of bed with the announcement that it was his birthday in 31 days. My son normally slow to get up (on school days), was now standing in front of me dressed (miracle # 1), consistent (miracle # 2) and smiling (miracle # 3). Unfortunately, both of my sons inherited my not-so-light-hearted start to morning behavior, or at least, not until two big lattes have seeped through my veins!
So what was it that made my son get out of bed, dressed and happy? It wasn’t his birthday, in fact, it was 31 days until his birthday! I didn’t have to wait long to find out the answer.
“Have you already bought my gift, Mom?” He asked.
Following the game, “what gift?”, I replied. “What are you waiting for?”
He knew very well what he wanted. Not at all obsessive, Harrison had only told me 1000 times before how much he would like an HD TV for his Xbox because the game’s graphics would be so much better. If you are a mother of children, you would understand it completely!
I just smiled told him that ‘you’ll just have to wait and see’ look and I finished making school lunches. The next day was a repeat of the previous day, standing in front of me was my son, dressed, coherent and happy, but wait for it …
“Mom, did you know it’s my birthday in 30 days?”
I continued to prepare school lunches. The next day, standing in front of me was my son, dressed, coherent and …. “
“Mom, did you know it’s my birthday in 29 days?”
I was serious! Would she have to endure another 29 days of being reminded of what to expect for her birthday? He could feel the pressure building and he knew he had to put an end to this!
“Son, I said, you can’t remind me every day that your birthday is coming. I know it is coming. You need to relax and enjoy this month and not focus on your birthday every day.” I could see that he was a bit disappointed by my words, but he accepted them.
The next day, Happy Harry was gone. He was dressed but not talkative, the enthusiasm was gone from his steps and the smile was gone from his face. It was the morning of the old school Harry. I felt terrible. I did not anticipate the impact my words would have on him. After a few more mornings like that, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I said:
“Harry, guess what?” What mom? “, Said.” It’s your birthday in 26 days. ”Her face lit up, her eyes began to smile, and she said, do you think I’m going to buy that TV?
The lessons our children can teach us about the power of hope are profound. Living life through the eyes of promise can turn ordinary days into days of expectation.
In Numbers 14 we meet Joshua, who was one of the 12 men sent by Moses to inspect the promised land of Canaan. Unlike 10 of the men, Joshua’s trip to Canaan filled him with excitement as he envisioned his future there. However, due to no fault of his own, instead of moving to the promised land, God’s promises were delayed for 40 years.
The delays are difficult enough without the added pressure of wandering the desert with the same people who were responsible for you being there! This is usually a receipt of bitterness, anger, doubt, disappointment, discouragement. Did I mention mumbling? – That constant talk about what didn’t happen, or what should have happened or those people or that leader or pastor !! Joshua had good reason to be angry, but listen to what Joshua had to say to the people of Israel after Moses’ death. He was God’s chosen leader for the upcoming season.
Joshua 14: 1 – 11
Now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said these forty-five years, since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel was wandering in the wilderness; and now here I am this day of 85 years. And yet I am as strong this day, as the day that Moses sent me; as it was then my strength, now it is my strength for war, both to leave and to enter ”.
Joshua did not enter his season of opportunity bitter, weak, or disbelieving, but he began his strongest leadership even though he was 45 years old and God’s promises had been delayed.
How we go through one season will determine how we move on to the next. Josué gives us a great key to get through the ‘wild’ seasons of our lives strong and ready for the opportunities that lie ahead. At age 40, Josué had a glimpse of the promised land, his future inheritance, and that mental image in his mind and spirit kept him strong during the season of waiting.
We can learn these things about the power of a promise from Joshua’s ‘Wilderness’ experience
1. God’s promises sustained us.
To sustain means to sustain, maintain, transport, nurture, nurture and preserve. Rather than being consumed by the ‘issues’ that weary and discourage us, when we find ourselves in times of waiting declaring that God’s promises will sustain us and help us move forward.
David says in Psalm 119: 50
Your promise revives me; comforts me in all my anguish.
When I started talking to Harry about his birthday, his spirit perked up, and joy returned to his day and in the same way, when we remind ourselves of God’s promises, his word strengthens and preserves us.
Joshua had a mental image of a land flowing with milk and honey, every day he was surrounded by a desert desert, but the promise of Canaan sustained him.
1. God’s promises give us hope
I like to think of hope as the X factor in our lives. It is the opposite of hopelessness, which means despair, pain, or despair. Hopelessness is the belief that nothing will change, that your dreams are impossible.
2 Corinthians 1:20 says: All God’s promises are Yes and Amen.
Hope in God’s promises is not an illusion, but a confident expectation based on solid certainty. Hope is a feeling that produces Strength, Trust and Security in our lives.
It was hope in God’s promises that kept Josué alive and he was able to declare: I am as strong today as 45 years ago, because his hope was in the Lord.
Psalm 3: 3
But you, O’Lord, are a shield to me, my glory and the one who lifts my head.
In the seasons that I have struggled, when the weight of pressure around me weighs down on me, I return to God’s promises and allow His words to shield me and lift my life up again. People who live with hope have a contagious joy around them that strengthens and gives them confidence in each season.
2. God’s promises give direction to our lives.
When Moses died, Joshua did not melt or wonder what he was going to do with his life. For 40 years he had been dreaming of Canaan, so when the season changed, he was ready for the opportunity.
Distraction is our number one enemy during waiting season. When you feel like nothing is wrong, it is tempting to make things happen. Sarah thought she would help God by offering her servant Hagar to Abraham. But God’s blessing was not on Ishmael because God’s promise was for Sarah.
During the waiting seasons, I have considered going to college, buying a business, moving abroad, but instead of having peace to move in these directions, I have felt limited by the promises of God.
David says in Psalms 16: 8-9
I have always put the Lord before me, because he is at my right hand, I will not be moved. Therefore my heart rejoices and my glory rejoices; My flesh will also rest in hope.
To me, this looks like a bunch of sticky notes posted around my home, office, bathroom mirror, closet, and anywhere I frequently visit or work. I write scriptures to testify and promise to hold fast to them. When I’m tempted to give up or quit, I don’t have to look too far to be reminded to stay the course.
One of my favorite quotes is from a man named Thomas Edison,
“A lot of life’s failures are people who didn’t realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
This date is like being on hold with Telstra, you want to hang up because you’re sick of waiting, but what if you’re next in line and hang up, you have to start over? Don’t let distractions make you give up your dream. All of God’s promises are yes and amen!
Hebrews 12:12
Strengthen the fallen hands and weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame person does not dislocate, but heals.
Joshua was strengthened by his 40-year journey, not weakened by it. Why not ask yourself, is your current thinking life adding strength to the season or depleting your dreams?
