by Leslee Stewart
When my mom was a little girl, growing up in the First Baptist Church of Norman, Oklahoma, her pastor taught her a simple but important spiritual lesson that has served as cornerstone of her life, and mine:
"Get yourself a Bible promise and stand on it, because God's Word never fails."
Growing up, when I would go crying to my mom about something that had gone wrong – a friend hurt my feelings, I failed a test – mom would often quote Preacher Hallock's famous line to me.
When I was in high school, I remember asking God to show me a verse in the Bible that could be “my verse" – a verse that, no matter the situation, I could turn to as God’s promise specifically for me. I can’t remember exactly how it happened, but one day God led me to Proverbs 3:5-6:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”
As soon as I read those verses, I knew they were my “Bible promise.” Throughout high school and even into college, those verses became a strong foundation for me. When I was scared about leaving home to head to college, they were there saying, “Trust in Me…” When I started getting serious with a boy, they were there saying, “I’m directing your path…” It seemed no matter the situation, my Bible promise was the perfect answer to calm my fears and put my mind at ease.
After college, I married that boy I got serious with and we started our young married life – a life that quickly became centered on our growing careers and expanding social life. Life was good and we were happy. There weren’t a lot of uncertainties, so I found myself drifting further away from my walk with God. I would still pray and go to church, but mostly I was doing what I wanted to do and directing my own path.
Then life started throwing me some curve balls – a couple of career changes, two moves across country, lingering health issues, and the birth of our two kids. It didn’t take too many of these uncertainties to come my way before I found that “leaning on my own understanding” did nothing to bring me peace and comfort.
So I dusted off my Bible promise and really started practicing what Preacher Hallock had taught my mom all those years before. When I didn’t know what to do, I trusted in the Lord. When I felt myself getting frustrated, I let go of trying to figure it out (leaning on my own understanding), and gave it back to God. The more and more I practiced my Bible promise and gave control of my life and daily situations to God, the more peace came my way, even when I didn’t have all the answers.
God loves hearing our prayer requests, but sometimes we need to stop asking Him what to do and look to the Bible to find out what He’s already said about our situation. Remember, His Word never fails, so ask Him to show you a Bible promise you can stand on, no matter what.
Do you have a Bible promise? If so, we’d love to know it and what it means to you. Share yours in the comments below.
Leslee Stewart oversees communications for GFC Beautiful. She is a wife, stay-at-home mom of two boys and former communications executive. She openly admits she owns too many throw pillows, loves junky old furniture and can sing all the parts of "Bohemian Rhapsody."