You may have heard of “promises of God,” but do you know what they are?
During a sorrowful season in which I spent a great deal of time in Scripture, I began to notice one specific word in many verses I found comforting. As I kept being drawn to this one little word—“will”—I realized it carried with it a certain strength, a confidence, an assurance of the bigger phrase or sentence in which it lay.
As I started focusing on these “will-filled” Scriptures, I recognized they were more than words from God to me: they were promises.
If God says he will do something, it’s not a “maybe”—it’s a certainty. In my sad and despairing state, I found this revelation more than encouraging: it was empowering.
And years later, I still do.
God’s promises empower our faith.
Grieving friend, please take this to heart: even in our suffering—especially in our suffering—we don’t have to wonder if God’s promises will come true. They will. We may not know how or when, but we can trust in his timing and way.
Of course there are many, many more promises in the Bible, but for now, I will share fourteen of my favorites. I hope as you read them, you will feel a new assurance of God’s LOVE, a new strength in your FAITH, and a new confidence as you HOPE.
And after each Scripture, feel free to speak aloud the promise I have personalized for you:
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- PSALM 126:5-6… “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”
I will reap with songs of joy;
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- ISAIAH 40:30-31… “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
LORD, as I hope in you, my strength will be renewed;
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- ISAIAH 41:13… “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
You, LORD, are my God who takes hold of my right hand and tells me not to fear; you will help me;
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- ISAIAH 46:4… “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
You, God, have made me and will carry me; you will sustain me and will rescue me;
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- ISAIAH 55:12-13… “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands…. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
I will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before me, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. LORD, this will be for your renown;
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- ISAIAH 58:8-9… “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
My healing will quickly appear, and your glory, LORD, will be my rear guard. I will cry for help, LORD, and you will answer;
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- ISAIAH 60:19-20… “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory…. Your days of sorrow will end.”
You, LORD, will be my everlasting light; my God will be my glory, and my days of sorrow will end;
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- HOSEA 6:3… “Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
LORD, you will appear; you will come to us;
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- LUKE 6:21… “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”
Jesus, I am blessed and will be satisfied; I will laugh;
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- ROMANS 8:18… “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
A glory of incomparable worth will be revealed in me;
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- PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7… “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I need not be anxious about anything; as I present my requests to you, God, your peace will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus;
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- 1 PETER 5:10… “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
God of all grace, you yourself will restore me and make me strong, firm, and steadfast;
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- REVELATION 7:17… “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Jesus, you will be my shepherd and will lead me to springs of living water. You, God, will wipe away every tear from my eyes;
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- REVELATION 21:3… “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’”
God, you will dwell among your people. You yourself will be with me and be my God.
If you want to ponder these promises more…
- Pick one of the Scriptures you especially like and memorize it.
- Speak aloud or write out for yourself the individual prayers to make one big prayer of promises…
I will reap with songs of joy;
LORD, as I hope in you, my strength will be renewed;
You, LORD, are my God who takes hold of my right hand and tells me not to fear; you will help me;
You, God, have made me and will carry me; you will sustain me and will rescue me;
I will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before me, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. LORD, this will be for your renown;
My healing will quickly appear, and your glory, LORD, will be my rear guard. I will cry for help, LORD, and you will answer;
You, LORD, will be my everlasting light; my God will be my glory, and my days of sorrow will end;
LORD, you will appear; you will come to us;
Jesus, I am blessed and will be satisfied; I will laugh;
A glory of incomparable worth will be revealed in me;
I need not be anxious about anything; as I present my requests to you, God, your peace will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus;
God of all grace, you yourself will restore me and make me strong, firm, and steadfast;
Jesus, you will be my shepherd and will lead me to springs of living water. You, God, will wipe away every tear from my eyes;
God, you will dwell among your people. You yourself will be with me and be my God.
In Jesus’ Name we pray, amen.
