When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams By Jill Eileen SmithSample

Day 6

I Can’t Put Stock in Anyone’s Promises

Genesis 38

Sometimes broken promises and empty words can be the catalyst that breaks our dreams. Sometimes other people disappoint us.

Judah must have exploded with rage when he heard his daughter-in-law Tamar had played the harlot and tricked him into getting her pregnant. But I wonder if the news of her pregnancy also brought him the slightest bit of guilt. After all, he had broken his word to take care of her after her husband died. Still, the Bible tells us that Judah demanded she be burned to death. So Tamar was brought before her father-in-law, and she could probably smell the torches burning and see Judah’s servants ready to tie her to a stake and set her ablaze. Good thing she had thought to get proof of his role in her situation. For when he declared her guilty, she produced her innocence. And in that moment, Judah finally came to his senses. He even declared her more righteous than he was, because he had failed to keep his word to her.

Sadly, because we live in a broken world, people will break their promises. But Scripture gives us so much hope for broken dreams and promises. God mercifully looked down on Tamar and allowed her to be included in the lineage of King David and eventually listed in the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.

Tamar took bold actions to turn her broken dreams on their head. While we might not see our dreams restored as hers were, if we trust God with the outcome of whatever life throws our way, we will find that He can turn broken promises into restored hope. 

When we are faced with people in our lives breaking their word to us, remember that broken promises do not have to define us. And to take it further, God never breaks His word to us. Joshua reminded the Israelites that every single one of God’s promises to Israel was fulfilled (Joshua 21:45), and the apostle Paul echoes this truth (2 Corinthians 1:20). 

Unlike people, God always keeps His promises. No matter our circumstances or our frustrations with others, God keeps His word. And He loves us! He will never back out on that.

Name a broken promise that is especially difficult for you to overcome. Then name a promise God has made to you that you know you can trust instead.