Have I ever broken a promise? Of course, I have. Just the other day I promised my son that we would have something special for supper, but our schedules never caught up to one another and we had to postpone. I realize that’s not a betrayal that will cause the earth to tilt wildly off its axis, but it is a failed assurance.
Broken promises come in all forms. “I’ll be there in five minutes” is pretty common. “We will get together soon” is another. Again, not earth-shattering, but such phrases aren’t always honored. Over the years, my home has been inundated with “I’ll clean it when I get back.”
My favorite? “I promise I’ll feed it and take care of it.”
I think promises have been watered down over time. What once meant a declaration of truth now means an attempt. If my grandfather said he would do something, you could count on it happening. If my friends today say they will, I can often translate that to indicate they might try.
What happens when a promise is broken? Promises are not contracts, not legally binding. (Although the next kitten that shows up at my house will only enter after signatures are notarized.) So what does happen? At first glance, we might say nothing. Nothing happens. Except it does.
Immediately I think of two things that may happen when a guarantee fails. First is the possibility of hurting someone. Relationships are built on promises that are kept, not broken. When I keep a vow, I show that I value my commitment to you. If I am often dropping the ball on my pledges, you may begin to get use to my damaging, hurtful behavior. Repeat offenses can kill a connection between two people. Richard Paul Evans once wrote: “Broken vows are like broken mirrors. They leave those who held to them bleeding and staring at fractured images of themselves.” This brings us to the second possibility: the loss of trust. Did I mislead you with purpose – in a manipulative sort of way? Am I just unreliable? Regardless of the intent, once trust is lost it can be difficult to regain.
I love that scripture is filled with the promises of God – promises that are never broken. When God makes a promise, I am valued and connected. My trust is never misplaced, and I can always depend on beautiful intentions and perfect outcomes.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes promises that fill my day with hope and calm. He may have alarmed the disciples when he revealed that he would be leaving, but he promised that they would never be alone. He declared that they would have comfort and instruction even in his absence. “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you.” (John 14:25-26, CEB)
Jesus promises that, under God’s guidance, I will never be completely shattered for I am made in the image of the perfect. I have a Companion who teaches me in every moment and reminds me of Jesus’ counsel. I will never be alone, and I will always be loved. Now that’s a promise I can count on being kept.
Trusting God,
Pastor Beth
Broken promises come in all forms. “I’ll be there in five minutes” is pretty common. “We will get together soon” is another. Again, not earth-shattering, but such phrases aren’t always honored. Over the years, my home has been inundated with “I’ll clean it when I get back.”
My favorite? “I promise I’ll feed it and take care of it.”
I think promises have been watered down over time. What once meant a declaration of truth now means an attempt. If my grandfather said he would do something, you could count on it happening. If my friends today say they will, I can often translate that to indicate they might try.
What happens when a promise is broken? Promises are not contracts, not legally binding. (Although the next kitten that shows up at my house will only enter after signatures are notarized.) So what does happen? At first glance, we might say nothing. Nothing happens. Except it does.
Immediately I think of two things that may happen when a guarantee fails. First is the possibility of hurting someone. Relationships are built on promises that are kept, not broken. When I keep a vow, I show that I value my commitment to you. If I am often dropping the ball on my pledges, you may begin to get use to my damaging, hurtful behavior. Repeat offenses can kill a connection between two people. Richard Paul Evans once wrote: “Broken vows are like broken mirrors. They leave those who held to them bleeding and staring at fractured images of themselves.” This brings us to the second possibility: the loss of trust. Did I mislead you with purpose – in a manipulative sort of way? Am I just unreliable? Regardless of the intent, once trust is lost it can be difficult to regain.
I love that scripture is filled with the promises of God – promises that are never broken. When God makes a promise, I am valued and connected. My trust is never misplaced, and I can always depend on beautiful intentions and perfect outcomes.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes promises that fill my day with hope and calm. He may have alarmed the disciples when he revealed that he would be leaving, but he promised that they would never be alone. He declared that they would have comfort and instruction even in his absence. “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you.” (John 14:25-26, CEB)
Jesus promises that, under God’s guidance, I will never be completely shattered for I am made in the image of the perfect. I have a Companion who teaches me in every moment and reminds me of Jesus’ counsel. I will never be alone, and I will always be loved. Now that’s a promise I can count on being kept.
Trusting God,
Pastor Beth