The Power of a Promise

By


Queen E. F. Phillips

My friend, Marsha did everything she could to make her husband happy. But instead he became more distant and coldhearted. His glaring dark eyes pierced her soul like arrows tossed at a dartboard every time he looked at her. The verbal abuse became unbearable. His raging insults caused her pint-size self-esteem to evaporate like boiling water.


Marsha chose not to attend our last girls’ night out. She confided in me that she only felt worse after our gatherings. Seeing how happy we were in our relationships made her feel disconnected. As her devoted friends, we promised to encourage and support her. We even had the audacity to promise her things would get better, which was totally out of our control. For months, Marsha listened to our advice knowing we could not make good on our promises. Our advice offered no real solution. Her mate’s broken promises ripped her heart apart and left her drained. Unfortunately, we added to her heartbreak. Obviously, we made a promise we could not keep.


Finally, Marsha resolved that she needed to try something else. She wanted to hear what God had to say about her situation. She decided to spend some time in prayer. She wanted answers. She was desperate, even willing to face the truth no matter how painful it might be. She was ready for a life-changing encounter that her grandmother told about so many times.


She meditated on First Corinthians 13:4-8a, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.”


She prayed, “What happened that caused love to fail in my marriage?”

In the stillness of the early morning hours before dawn, Marsha sensed warmth as if a blanket covered her chilled body. Tears of joy replaced her sorrow, accompanied by a symphony of peace, faith, hope, and love. An unexplainable calmness erased fear and despair as she listened attentively to the small still voice within.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)


Marsha awoke inspired to believe in the power of promise. She had heard this scripture quoted a jillion times by her mother. Marsha remembered the powerfulness of this promise, and how it transformed the mindset of her mother during times of adversity. Miraculously, it gave her strength to stand firm and believe that good wins over evil. It gave her fresh hope for a brighter future. The power of this promise provoked a level of faith that empowered her to embrace every challenge with expectancy and purpose.

Life comes with a long list of challenges— broken relationships, painful pasts, fears, depression, tragedy, and bad decisions. But may I remind you of one thing? It is difficult to carry our challenges in overstuffed backpacks depending solely on the promises of others to ease our burdens. No doubt, family and friends would love to help just as we tried to help Marsha. But none of us possess the power to revive a broken spirit, and heal a wounded heart caused by an onslaught of broken promises.


Perhaps now would be the perfect time to try an experience like my friend. It could inspire you to believe in the power of promise. Couldn’t you use the rest?

A Soaring Perspective

Alexis’ view at 30,000 feet afforded her the opportunity to see from a different perspective. As she stared out of the small window on the Boeing 737 the Word of God captured her thoughts.

Isaiah 40:22, “God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.”

After fifteen years of marriage, and years of struggle Alexis’ world came crashing down the day Jarred announced his love for Carlton.

She had always handled disturbing or shocking news with a sense of calm that amazed her three adorable children. But this…this was different. The news hit her like a bolt of lightning; knocked her to the ground and left her lifeless.

Her daily cry, “Lord, how will we get through this?”

It was impossible for her to function normally throughout the day. For weeks, every emotion converged with explosive tendencies. Her body nearly collapsed from the overload. Finally, she had to get away… solitude in the Presence of the Lord would have to be the only way she would be able to rise above this “ground zero” experience.

The advice of family and friends were futile, harsh, and didn’t reflect Christian principles. Although she was devastated by the pain of betrayal, revenge and retaliation weren’t options for her because she understood that this would require a supernatural answer that could only come through the power of the Holy Spirit.

From this vantage point clear perception, and a new perspective came. As the plane ascended to maxiumum altitude, Alexis envisioned herself acending...soaring high on the wings of an eagle. And when the plane landed, taxied to the designated gate, she knew from then on she could run and not grow weary and would walk and not faint.

Like Alexis, when we face the devastating challenges of life, we too must find solace in the solitude of His Presence. The healing process will vary with every individual and situation. However, the results yield the same —power and strength to overcome any challenge or situation.

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:28-31


PERSONAL PRAYER:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you that you care enough about my challenging situations, pains, and disappointments in this life so much that you would grant me the privilege of communing with you. And so, I ask now that you would speak to me according to my need. Let us find the power and strength that we need to soar high like eagles. I want to run to you always and not grow weary in doing what is good and pleasing to you. Help me to live this life victoriously through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ so that I will not give up in spite of the challenges I face now, or even in the future. I rest in you as my Source of strength. In Jesus’ name I pray with thanksgiving. Amen.