First, let me tell you that strawberries are my favorite fruit. I love strawberry pie, strawberry cake, strawberry shortcake, strawberry ice cream, strawberry soda –  you get the picture.  I did have some strawberry soup once that I did not care for. One of my favorite memories is my husband and I driving down the Pacific Coast Highway and coming upon an incredibly strong, sweet smell of strawberry fields. 

About thirtyish years ago, I made a promise to myself.  Recently, I broke that promise. Thirty or so years ago, my girls and I went with a neighbor and her daughter strawberry picking.  I recall having to bend down or squat up and down quite a bit to pick the berries.   I also remember the plants being prickly but that may be a faulty memory.  Suffice it to say, I did not enjoy the picking part.  So, I promised myself I would never pick strawberries again. 

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to go to the strawberry festival at Eckert’s Belleville, IL farm.  I thought, why not, I’ll hitch a ride on the wagon to the fields and give picking strawberries another go.  Yeah, same up and down experience.  Not for me.  I will be picking my strawberries in pints in the produce section of the market!  I am grateful to the people who grow the berries, and especially grateful for those that do the harvesting so I may enjoy the berries.    

This example of a broken promise may seem frivolous, but actual broken promises to others are harmful.  I acknowledge there are times when we have to let someone down.  Unforeseen circumstances make it impossible to keep your word.  It’s not a good feeling when you disappoint someone else.  Hopefully, at some point, they will understand and forgive you. 

The scriptures tell us of God’s covenant to never flood the earth again. He gives us a sign – the rainbow – to accentuate that particular promise as found in Genesis 9:8-16 (NIV). 

Hebrews assures us he will never leave nor forsake us: 

 “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’  So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’ (Hebrews 13:5-6, ESV).

We find God’s  promise of peace in Philippians: 

 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:7, ESV).

Also in the fourth chapter of the book of Philippians, we find the promise of provision: 

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, ESV).

For those who love God, he promises all things work together for good according to his purpose: 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV). 

For our purposes today, we will end with the promise of strength: 

 “He gives power to the faint; and to him who has no might, he increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:29, ESV). 

These are not all the promises of God.  However, they are promises we can draw from in our daily lives.  God never breaks his promises.  

Prayer:

God, we thank you for all that you are to us and will always be.  We need not fear, because you are near to those who call on your name.  Amen.