The God who keeps his promises

I was anxious, and the gathered crowd nervous for me. I was standing at the front of church but, for once, the source of my unease was not an upcoming sermon. 

It was my wedding day. And the bride was nowhere to be seen. 

The morning had dawned bright and beautiful. A honeymoon was planned, and then we would begin our married life as church planters. We’d gathered a small congregation, hopes were high, but finances were low. In drawing up a wedding list, we prayed some might forsake the customary toaster and just give us cash. But armed with God’s promises of presence and help, we were ready to embark on our adventure. 

At the church, an agonising eight minutes ticked by (which felt like an hour) before, at last, she arrived, dazzlingly beautiful despite a 1970s flouncy wedding dress that partially disguised her as a meringue. I might add that my fashion choices were no better; the lapels on my suit were so wide, a sudden gust of wind might have swept me off to Iceland. My tie knot was almost as big as my head, my trousers were flared and my platform heels were high. 

We sang a hymn and said vows that we’d written ourselves. My heart beat fast as I turned to her, my hands clammy in hers. I began: “My darling Kay, my sister in the Lord, today I am rejoicing greatly that you have chosen to be my wife. I promise therefore to be a blessing to you, to always be awake before you in the morning, and greet you with a cup of hot tea. I solemnly pledge to never complain, argue or be grumpy. I will always listen and never, ever snore. I will never criticise your driving. In short, I will be perfectly yours.”

Kay’s response was succinct. Just four words: “Yeah, right. Dream on.” 

OK, you’ve guessed it. The vows above are a work of fiction. I would never have offered such cheesy and totally unrealistic guarantees, because I could never live up to them. 

Fast forward 46 years, and Kay and I have recently stepped aside from pastoral leadership after a lifetime in ministry. Over the decades, we’ve watched countless examples of believers who became angry and embittered with Jesus, effectively blaming him for not keeping promises that he never made. 

Tragedy strikes, dreams are dashed, health scares mug us. We know that when we decided to journey with God, we were never promised a pain-free life. On the contrary, Jesus taught his followers that they would have trouble in this world (John 16:33). Despite that not being anyone’s favourite verse, we can still feel that clouds should never come because, well, God can intervene, can’t he? 

While it is true that he does have that power, the Bible contains many pages that chronicle countless heartbreaks and horrors endured by believers. Far from promising endless ease, the message of scripture seems to be: “Walk with God, be faithful, it’s what every human was born for. It may well cost you persecution, and even your life, but it’s the very best.” Hardly a great marketing statement, but it’s both sobering and true. 

Decades on, we can attest that God does keep his promises. He is faithful. Advent reminds us that the rescuer has come, and eternity will dawn. Tears will be banished, and we will never be alone again. 

For now, we may find ourselves navigating a shadowy pathway. Answers to prayer seem delayed or ignored. But let’s shun anger with God when he doesn’t deliver on what he never promised. Onward, then, our trusting hands held tight to his by faith, into another day and another year.