As COVID seems to be spiking again, there is a sense of weariness among us all. With no end in sight, we are tired. In many ways, we feel as though God has forgotten us. We know God’s promises. We know what the Bible says. But the struggles with co-workers, employees, family, life circumstances, and government have left us questioning the veracity of these Biblical promises. In these times, it is vital that we preach the truth to ourselves. Specifically, it is vital that we preach the truth of God’s faithfulness to ourselves.

The church in Thessalonica battled this very issue. A contingency had come into the church claiming that the promise of the resurrection was false. This was particularly poignant because they were facing serious threats from their neighbors and government. If God would not fulfill His promise and bring them to heaven, how could they face the challenges here? Paul reminded them of eternity in the famous rapture passage of 1 Thessalonians 4. But I want to draw our attention to the way that Paul closed the book with a fascinating and important promise. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 – “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”

What God promises, He will do. He never has to revise his words. He never reneges on His promises. As Balaam said to Balak, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19).

Scripture reveals that God is faithful. He keeps his promises. God promised Abraham a son. As unlikely as that seemed due to Abraham and Sarah’s advanced age, God kept his promise. God promised to make him a great nation. That happened. God promised to send a Son to take away our sins. He fulfilled that promise. No matter how unlikely the promise, God always kept His Word.

In this unusual time, we must remind ourselves of God’s promises. God has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:8). He has promised to supply for our needs (Phil. 4:19, Matt. 6:33). He has promised to care for us (1 Pet. 5:7). He has promised to give us tranquil hearts (Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-8). Many times, these promises seem hollow. We don’t see them as a reality in our lives. This occurs because we are gazing at the wrong thing. We need to gaze at God. He is faithful.

I have found that a simple practical exercise I learned in college helps me in these times. This exercise involves two parts. First, I begin a biography of God. I take a notebook and my Bible and I begin to write down every attribute of God I find. I also write down every promise God has made to me in Scripture that I find. This serves to set my mind correctly on God. Second, I begin a works of God notebook. I begin to write down all the ways God has proved faithful to me in the past. This serves to remind me that God has never failed me. Through this, my gaze is turned away from my circumstances and back to God. Look to Him, rest in Him, speak truth to yourself, and find peace.