God’s promises are our anchors in the storm. They are a rock upon which we can stand. They are the light that gives us guidance in the darkness.
That is…if we are using discernment. We must be careful not to stand on an inaccurate understanding of God’s promises. That will put us on sand, not on solid rock. This will leave us adrift in the storm and we’ll crash against the rocks rather than be anchored and steadfast in the storm.
Here are 3 questions to help guide our discernment.
#1 – Does this promise even apply to me? Read the context!
We could be setting ourselves up for spiritual disappointment by taking a promise that God never intended for us and applying that promise to our lives. We will build an expectation that God will do something for us that He never promised to do. There are promises to Noah, David, and Solomon that don’t apply to us. There are promises that God made to Israel that do not apply to us. There are promises Jesus made to the apostles that don’t apply to us. Be careful.
For example: “The Holy Spirit will give you the words…” Jesus promised His apostles that they should not concern themselves with what to say when before rulers. Jesus promised them that the Holy Spirit would give them the very words to say in that hour (Matthew 10:17-20). Sometimes well-meaning Christians will use that promise to apply to themselves. I would encourage you to read the rest of the New Testament. What are Christians even in the New Testament times told to do? Search the Scriptures, rightly divide the word (2 Timothy 2:15). Give yourself entirely to the Word, so that you can save yourself and those who hear you (1 Timothy 4:16). Use discernment, think about what you are going to say (Colossians 4:5-6). Prepare yourselves to give an answer to those who ask you (1 Peter 3:15).
Keep things in context. The above is just one example among many.
#2 – Am I considering any conditional statements (If-Then) that go along with that promise?
God promised to answer my prayers. He also commanded that I keep His commandments. If I’m living as I wish but want to call upon God to keep His promise to me, then I should consider any conditions to that promise. 1 John 3:21-22 – “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”
God is not a cosmic genie that I just access by rubbing the lamp at my convenience and proceed to order the genie to grant my 3 wishes. Our God is a loving Father who will promises to care for His children, but we must walk alongside Him.
Another example. God promised to answer our prayers and forgive us, but there is an “if.” We must forgive others (Mark 11:24-26).
#3 – Are we putting God to a test by abusing His promises?
When tempting Jesus, Satan tried to use a promise of God from Psalm 91:11-12. He used it to tempt Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple. God promised He would bear His people up lest they dash their foot against a stone. Jesus told Satan that to use this promise of God in the way Satan did would be to put the Lord our God to a test (Matthew 4:5-7). Jesus discerned the difference between falling and deliberately jumping!
God promises to care for His children, but do I rack up tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt and expect God to bail me out? God promises to provide for me, but do I complain about how He’s provided? That’s putting God to a test (1 Corinthians 10:9-10). Are we taking His grace and using it as a license to sin (Romans 6:1; Jude 4). God forbid. Let’s not use God’s amazing promises to test the limits of His care and love.
I know God promised to not tempt me beyond what I’m able (1 Corinthians 10:13), but do I keep testing God putting myself in bad situations (Romans 13:11-14; Ephesians 4:27). Do I keep putting my toes in sinful waters? Do I keep walking on the line? Do I keep seeing how close I can get to “sin” without sinning? Then I’m testing God. That IS sin by the way.
God’s promises are amazing, and God keeps His promises. Every one of them. Count on it. He cannot lie. But we must also use discernment. Study the context of those promises. Consider the conditions of that promise if there are any. Don’t test God by abusing His promises.
Use discernment – Be not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17).