Wishful Thinking?

Wishful Thinking?

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:1

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Romans 4:20-21

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Lots of people make wishes—when they blow out their birthday candles or when they cross their fingers or when they look at shooting stars. They say, “I hope it will happen” or “I hope I will get it.” They are wishing for something but have no confidence that it will happen.

But we don’t have to cross our fingers and hope as hard as we can that God will give us everything he has promised to give us or to do everything he has promised us he will do. We can be completely confident, totally sure, solidly convinced that God is at work in the everyday aspects of our lives. We can count on him to fulfill his promises to us. What promises? All his promises, including these: God works everything together for good for those who love him (Romans 8:28); he will follow us with goodness and mercy all our days (Psalm 23:6); he will not leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

You don’t have to wish and wait, wondering if God will do what he has said he’ll do in his Word. You may not have experienced the fulfillment of some promises yet, but if he has promised something, there is no question it will happen. We can entrust our lives to the One who holds the future, no matter what happens. Because God will do what he has promised to do.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What promises have people made to you? What promises have you made to other people?

What promises of God do you find it easy to put your faith in? What promises are harder for you to be confident in?

How do we know God is trustworthy—that he will follow through on all the promises he has made?