God’s Purpose in the Promise

I have heard it said many times that there are enough promises in God’s word for every day of the year. But as I get up, go to work, come home, and go to bed, I can easily go through an entire day without specifically applying His promises to my life.

The Lord is specific and intentional in all He does, and in all He tells us. We know that everything God does is for our good and His glory. This is especially true of the difficult challenges we all face in everyday life.

None of God’s promises are arbitrary or random. He wants us to know Him and His promises, so that we live differently.

Some of His promises are conditional, while others are unconditional. God has purpose behind every promise. None of God’s promises are arbitrary, random, flippant statements, nor should they be treated that way. He wants us to know Him and His promises, so that we live differently.

God promises us His presence.

As Joshua was preparing to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, the Lord promised Joshua His presence: “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

God’s purpose for that promise: To motivate Joshua to attack the enemy! And it worked; God’s promise inspired Joshua and helped prod him along to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. The promise of God’s presence continues to serve a similar function for us today. It provides the motivation we need to get out of our comfort zones and demonstrate greater faith in Him as we carry out His plan.

The same promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), also helps us live free of the anxiousness that comes from obsessing over what we do not have.

God promises us He is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 admonishes us to,hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” The faithfulness of God is the foundation of His promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

God wants to produce in us an unswerving faith, regardless of what tests, trials, or temptations we face. He puts His faithfulness on the line as He says to us, “You CAN endure what you are going through, as long as you are trusting that I am faithful, because I will never allow you to go through anything you cannot handle.”

God’s purpose for that promise: Regardless of the source of our tests or trials, we will be able to endure it! Based on this promise, I can lay down at night with peace and contentment in my soul, even if my circumstances are seemingly spinning out of control.

God promises us peace.

God promises to guard our hearts and minds with supernatural peace not understood from the human perspective, if we are willing to express thanksgiving to Him in and for everything.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (See also Ephesians 5:20 and Colossians 3:17.)

It takes a certain level of Christian maturity to genuinely offer thankfulness to God in every circumstance, but that is God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is easier to be thankful in the midst of poverty than it is to be thankful FOR poverty. However, there is a deeper faith. A faith that expresses thanksgiving for everything. Such a faith has fully embraced that the chief end of man is to glorify God. Such a faith leads us to living differently.

A faith that expresses thanksgiving for everything leads us to living differently for the glory of God.

God’s purpose for that promise: To lead me to express thanksgiving to Him in and for all things in my life.

A pillow or a prod?

I do not know which of God’s many promises He is reminding you of today. It might be a promise He will use as a pillow to give you comfort and rest, or it might be one He will use as a prod to spur you on and motivate you to do greater things for Him.

While I do not know how He will use His promises in your life today, I do know this: Every one of God’s promises works for our good and His glory.

Take a sheet of paper and write down five promises that are applicable to your life’s circumstances today. Then answer the questions below.

  • How is God using these to prod you along today?
  • How is God using these to provide you peace and contentment today?
  • How will you use these promises to live differently today?   

Use the promises you wrote down to worship God for who He is. Respond to who He is by asking Him to help you live out His promises in your life. Ask Him to help you live differently today because of who He is and what He’s promised you. Tell God you trust Him and His plan for your life. Ask His Holy Spirit to help you walk in step with His plan for your life today!

Copyright © 2020 Mike Mitchener. All rights reserved.


Mike Mitchener was the founding and Senior Pastor of Westside Fellowship in Elon, NC for nearly 20 years. Prior to that, he had a very successful business career. Mike and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for 30 years and recently followed God’s leading to pastor Riverview Baptist Church in Pearisburg, VA. Mike is also a board member of Strategic Renewal and serves on our speaking team.