When I was a teenager, in the summertime, my family would drive to Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland each weekend. It was a two and one half hour drive from our home near Frederick, Maryland, but it was worth getting away to enjoy weekends camping and having fun on the lake, and I cherish the memories of those days.

Because we lived in the countryside of Maryland, I rarely got to go to the mall. Which was a big deal in those days since the mall was the place to hang out. I also liked going to the mall since I enjoyed stopping at book and computer stores. Therefore, as we drove to Deep Creek Lake each weekend, I’d ask my dad if we could stop off at the mall in Cumberland. When I asked my dad if we could stop off at the mall, I had to be careful with my timing. Too soon, and he’d forget. Too late, which was when we were nearing the exit, and he’d refuse. As a teenager, this was very stressful because often I’d ask my dad, and he’d say yes, and then as we approached the off-ramp, he’d keep on going. If I said something as we approached the off-ramp, he’d change his mind, and if I didn’t, we’d pass the mall. Either way, we didn’t stop at the mall.

As a teenager, I confess I didn’t think much about how my parents saw our weekend trips. Obviously, the trips were mini-vacations from the stress of working in Washington, DC. Thus, they probably wanted to get to the lake more than I did, and stopping off at the mall only delayed their rest and recuperation.

As Christians, God has made us a lot of promises. In fact, there are over 7,000 promises in the Bible! As I was reading Genesis today, I thought about the promises of God and what it means to wait on them. Mainly when I read this verse.

Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.

Genesis 25:21 (NIV)

As he was growing up, Isaac had to have known God and his promise to his father, Abraham. I can only imagine then, Isaac’s response when he and his wife Rebekah didn’t have children. Where was God? What had happened to the promise God made to Abraham? What should he do? Should he pray? While a pledge to stop off at the mall doesn’t compare to the promise of birthing nations, there’s still stress when it looks like a commitment isn’t going to be fulfilled.

Isaac could have said nothing and waited silently, as I struggled to do when I was a teenager, or he could say something. Unlike our human fathers, who are imperfect, God is perfect and will always do what he says. In fact, we have this assurance about God.

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

As Christians, we have something Isaac didn’t have. The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to confirm the promises of God. As we see in these verses.

Set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV)

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 5:5 (NIV)

Therefore, we can trust that whatever God has said, he will do, he will do. Whatever promises God has made, we will see come to fruition. Just as it says here in 2 Corinthians.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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