Standing on His precious promises

In Act 2, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the kindly Friar says to Romeo, who is being vague and evasive about the jam he is in: “Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.” In other words, vague confessions can only be given vague and unsatisfactory counsel or absolution.

I fear we often have a similar situation in our churches. It is almost formulaic to thank God for “his precious and very great promises” but never state a specific promise or dwell on it. It is not so helpful to glibly mention these promises unless we know what they are and can summon them at will when we are in a jam like Romeo.

My husband and I are counseling a woman who is in distress because of a romance gone sour. We want her to take encouragement in God’s promises to her but her head is full of mush in that regard. The many emailed words of her AWOL boyfriend are etched in her memory and constantly rehearsed, day and night. But, though she is a Christian, she cannot seem to think of a single concrete word of promise from God to cling to.

We will never make progress in a difficult trial unless the words and promises of God are more real to us than the words and promises of men. Here is a starter kit:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV).

“… Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, ESV).

“… He rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV).

“… No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11, ESV).

“… walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16, ESV).

“… He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV).

“… The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16, ESV).

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you” (James 4:10, ESV).

“… your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:18, ESV).

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV).

This is not even scratching the surface. The Bible is full of promise. Pick a promise, any promise, and stand upon it, and tell God you are standing upon it. Remind Him of His own Word and rest in it. He considers it not hubris but faith, and He comes through.