Weekly Inspiration: The Lord Keeps his Promises

A couple of years ago, I was in Jacksonville with some other members of the Renewal Ministries team to lead a retreat for young adults. On our last morning there, we stopped at the beach before heading to the airport. As I walked along the shore, looking out over the ocean, the Lord reminded me of a promise He had made earlier that summer.

I love the beach, but I knew that a summer vacation by the ocean was not in the cards financially that year. So, I decided to just ask the Lord if He could help me get to the ocean—for free. It seemed unlikely, but what did I have to lose? However, his response took me by surprise: “I promise to take you to the beach this year.”

Promise? I knew that wasn’t a word to take lightly with Him. Did I really hear that right? I decided that I shouldn’t worry about it; if I heard correctly, He could find a way to get me there. So, I left it to Him and moved on, honestly forgetting all about it. That is, until a few months later.

I felt Him point out to me a seashell that had washed on shore. As I picked it up, I heard Him say, “Take this home with you as a reminder that I always keep my promises.” And so, that little seashell sits on my nightstand as a tangible reminder that God does keep his promises. Since then, the Lord has answered many of my prayers—things I’d been requesting for a long time.

Sometimes the Lord makes us wait, but that’s because the plan He has is so much better than our own plans. And sometimes, his answer is “no” because, again, his plans are so much better than our own, not because He wants us to be miserable. And like any good parent, the Father not only takes care of our basic needs, He also wants to give us good gifts! I didn’t need to go to the beach, but He wanted to bring me there because He knew it would bring me joy.

Now, even in the midst of waiting, I can look at that seashell and remember that God is good and suffering isn’t forever. All we need to do is tell Him our needs and wants, and He will take care of it. It may not turn out exactly how we think it should, but we can trust that his plans for us are good.