Dr. Everek D. Storms, a Canadian researcher, spent a year and a half counting all of God’s promises throughout the bible. His final tally was 8,810.
Approximately 85% of those promises were from God to man (7,487) He even said himself he doesn’t guarantee the count but its the most accurate as far as he knows.
I always like to remind myself of that total whenever I doubt God’s love for me. I’ve had bad days where I begin to feel low or it’s going horribly. I randomly looked up and saw a rainbow… something even a double rainbow! (I think most millennials remember the double rainbow video from 2010)
Anyone familiar with Genesis remembers God’s promise to Noah after the flood, marked by the rainbow as a sign that He would never again flood the earth.
When I have doubts or I struggle to get past the fact that I’ll never be good enough, I remember the promises.
I’ve had moments where my life was going extremely well and I was happy yet something weighed on my heart to listen to songs like Still Waters (Psalm 23) by Leanna Crawford or Don’t You Give Up On Me by Brandon Lake.
The funny thing is six months later, I needed to have those worship songs on my heart to keep me from spiraling. I have no words to even describe how I felt when I realized, “Now that was the reason”
He sees me. He knows me. I may not be able to see Him but I won’t give on Him.
He’s delivered in moments where I thought my life was in shambles. He showed up when I thought all hope was lost. I heard Josh Howerton, senior pastor of Lakepoint Church, admit that that he had 8 months of massive anxiety.
The Importance of Real Connection
One of my favorite things that he said was he admitted the darkest things in his heart out loud to the people who loved him. In an age of screens and social media, we utilize those platforms to push our agenda, our beliefs, our feelings, yet we forget about the people close to us. Those who we used to talk to everyday but it dropped dramatically after the introduction of cell phones.
A study done in 2024 showed that 54% of Americans spend less than 15 minutes on the phone with family and friends. That is unreal and insane to think about.
No wonder we live in an age and era of massive depressive, anxiety, and loneliness. Instead of personal interaction, we can scroll and refresh our browsers to see what everyone else is doing while interacting and commenting with no feelings or emotions behind any of our actions.
Created for Community
God created us to live in community. God is one. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Have you built someone up today?
We are encouraged all throughout the bible to be a light to others, encourage, lift up, be kind, loving, etc. Yet even though we are encouraged all of those things. we are becoming a society of evil and hate with less and less true believers who fight for truth.
When are we going to share the truth in love even when it is against everything that is politically correct? Why are we so fearful of being different?
As a believer, we are already different in the way we think and feel. We have a secret that needs to be shared and screamed out at the top of our lungs. Would you keep secret a gift that can completely change the world or be worried to cause a stir?
A Convicting Thought
I heard Cliffe Knechtle says at one of his university events he speaks. His worry at the end when he is meeting Jesus in the air at the end and he looks over his shoulder and sees someone he knows. “Cliffe, we played ball together. You didn’t have the guys to tell me that this is how human history is going to end? He wouldn’t want to respond with, “well, I didn’t want to tell you and be considered a religious nutcase or a fanatic. So, I played it cool”
That would be hypocrisy.
I don’t wish for that. I want to be more hardcore in my faith. I want to stand up for Jesus.
I want to profess to everyone who can hear my voice that Jesus is Lord and He saved me. He can save you too! I know it might seem silly now but I’m just asking, what do you have to lose? Is your life all you ever wanted? Do you ever feel like something is missing?
What do you have to lose?
The Reality of Faith
I’m not saying God won’t allow suffering in your life. I’m not saying you’ll be happy everyday and you won’t be depressed. All I am saying is that God is the true meaning of everything we know and love. All the goodness, all the love, and especially all of the beauty we see every day here on earth.
My friend, take heart. Remember God’s promises over your life. He won’t force you to love Him or want to be in His presence. He loves you too much to make you do anything.
Who would want someone to be forced to love you? We’d be robots if that were the case.
Take the leap of faith. I can promise you it will be unlike anything you’ve every experienced.
A Prayer
God, I pray that anyone who reads this post will trust in you if they don’t already. Allow their hearts to be opened and softened in order to truly grasp what it means to love you. Your goodness and mercy is seen all throughout our lives if only we took the time to pay attention. God, you are worthy of all our praises. Thank you Lord for being our light and our fortress. This world is absolutely crazy but no problem is bigger than you Lord. Keep us all safe. Heal those who may be hurting or in pain, if it is your well Lord. I pray all these things in your name, Amen.
The Quiet Scroll 
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