“Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:30-31 (NLT)
If you’re anything like me and you grew up watching TV, you probably saw your share (or more than your share) of infomercials. Every one of them is full of smiling, enthusiastic people trying to sell you everything under the sun, and of course the chipper announcers are happy to help the onscreen folks out with some catchy phrases designed to make you break out your credit card.
But inevitably, many of those products don’t work as advertised. They don’t cook perfect food, take off those extra pounds, or drive faster than all those other cars. As often happens in this world, our expectations are brought down or dashed altogether by products that don’t fit the bill.
Our failing trust in advertised products shows us the fragile nature of trusting in this world. We tend to put our trust in things like money and computers, but information and profit can be lost just as easily as it’s gained. Even the people we love and trust the most will sometimes let us down.
But the world has been backed into a corner by the truth of the Bible. Evidence of the great flood and Nineveh’s existence, among other things, has turned up and been defended by many scholars and scientists. Non-believers have written doctoral dissertations which argued against the Bible, only to be proven wrong by this physical evidence.
God’s promises listed in the Bible provide a much stronger foundation than the promises, physical landmarks, or material products of this world. The Bible states that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. The sinless and everlasting nature of Christ extends to his promises, and to the promises of God as well.
Four of God’s many promises stand out to me. First, God has promised never to leave or forsake those who believe in Him and choose to follow Him. God loves to celebrate with His people in times of joy, and He will stay with them and guide them when times get tough. Sometimes God has to teach all of us lessons, both big and small. Life won’t always go as we planned, but God is there to guide you if you ask for His wisdom.
Second, God promises to provide for the needs of His people. Timothy and I have seen God keep this promise many times. Money or food will sometimes show up when we need it most, and we have received physical help or direction to a particular building or room, once we have prayed for God to help us out. God may not help you as quickly as you’d like, or in the way you expect, but He has promised to assist people who cast their cares and needs upon Him.
God’s third promise is something we don’t really like to hear, but it’s still very important. God has promised to correct and discipline the children whom he loves. Correction can sometimes come in big and life-changing ways, but it can also come in the form of a simple lesson.
I haven’t been feeling well this week, so out of the kindness of his heart, Timothy wrote a devotion for me. But a very good friend of ours decided to borrow our computer for a while. As it turned out, Tim forgot to save his devotion, and since I had been resting most of the time, I hadn’t saved the file either. So there’s a good chance the devotion has been lost. I’ve often told Tim it’s important to save his work, but God has taught me that the same lesson also applies in my case. Sometimes the lesson you want to teach someone else is just as relevant for you. This is one of God’s many forms of correction. Some are gentle and others are stronger, but we should learn to accept all of them, since God is trying to form us into His own image as we learn and grow with Him.
Most importantly, God has promised us eternal life with Him after we leave this world. He loved our fallen world so much that He gave up His only son for us. If you’re a parent, you can imagine how hard it would be to sacrifice your only child. But Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and God has promised to forgive our sins in the name of His son.
Today I challenge you to study God’s promises in His word, and dedicate or re-dedicate your life to God. Instead of trusting in the world, which often disappoints us with broken promises, learn to lean on the word of God. His promises are everlasting, and they will provide a firm foundation for your life if you choose to place yourself in His hands.

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870.
Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Tuesday night Bible study. These studies are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 5:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 313-209-8800. Our PIN is 8699032. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.