Many adults can attest to what it’s like to look into the face of a child and hear them speak the words “but you promised”. In all of our good intentions, we have promised them something but because of circumstances beyond our control, we have to be the bearers of bad news. Oftentimes we feel as bad if not worse than the child. After all, we were looking forward to experiencing their joy. Cautious parents (like myself), stand by a code where 1. You never mention what you doing or where you’re going until you’re actually about to do it or physically on your way there. And 2. Never promise anything. I know that it sounds terrible to it’s the safety net that protects everyone from disappointment and keeps me from ever having to hear the words “but you promised”.

God, however, doesn’t make promises that can’t be kept. Furthermore, there are no circumstances that are out of God’s control. And therefore, we can stand on God’s promises. God looks forward to experiencing the joy from us receiving and standing on His promises. But because we have disappointed others and been so disappointed by broken promises here on earth, we find it difficult to pursue the promises of our Father in heaven. We have lived in bondage for too long not wanting to hope for too much, not wanting to reach too high, not wanting to expect the best, so that we won’t be disappointed or be a disappointment. But there is no freedom or faith in that lifestyle. We must not expect that our relationship with God and His promises are the same as our relationship and promises to each other, for...

        “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,  so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
                                                                                                                         Isaiah 55:8-9 (New Living Translation)