Who hasn’t been told a project would be done by a certain date, only to find yourself waiting a week later? Or as a parent, perhaps you promised your child a summer trip that never happened by Labor Day. Maybe you even felt the heartbreak when someone you loved decided that “’til death do us part” no longer applied.
Broken promises come in all shapes and sizes. They almost always bring disappointment, and often deep frustration.
Why Are Promises So Hard to Keep?
1. We overpromise.
Sometimes we simply commit to more than we can realistically do. Only later do
we realize the cost is too high. Jesus warned:
“Don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a
building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is
enough money to pay the bills?” (Luke 14:28, NLT)
2. We get distracted by urgency.
Marriages don’t usually fall apart because one spouse deliberately chooses
neglect. More often, the vow to “love and cherish” is slowly buried under
deadlines, distractions, and packed schedules.
The Bible calls us to decide what matters most: “Choose today whom you will
serve.” (Joshua 24:15) That principle applies to more than faith—it’s about
priorities. Learning to say “no” to some demands frees us to say “yes” to
what’s truly important.
3. We procrastinate.
“Tomorrow” feels safer than today, but putting things off slowly erodes life.
Homes become cluttered because today’s mess rolls into tomorrow. Cars break
down from years of ignored maintenance. Most things don’t collapse
overnight—they crumble one neglected task at a time.
Years ago, a trainer taught me a principle: “Handle paper once.” The point was simple—finish what you start. If it only takes a few minutes, do it now. Imagine how many promises would be kept if we applied that same principle to life.
4. We are sinners.
Even our best intentions collide with our brokenness. Paul admitted, “I have
the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18,
NIV) Left on our own, weeds flourish while gardens wither. But with God as our
Gardener, tending and cultivating our hearts, we gain strength beyond
ourselves:
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians
4:13, NIV)
Living with Kept Promises
So what can we do?
- Guard your words—promise only what you intend to act on.
- Set wise priorities and stick to them.
- Keep your word, even when it costs something.
- Live daily in the Spirit’s presence, asking Him to strengthen and guide you.
God’s promises never fail. When we walk closely with Him, we
find stability and fruitfulness:
“(Those) who delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night,
are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their
leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1)
That’s the kind of life I want. How about you?
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