And You Promised Me
Scripture Text: Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac - O LORD, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ - Genesis 32:9
Jacob’s journey of faith offers us a powerful lesson in trusting God during fearful times. In Genesis 32:7, we find Jacob “greatly afraid and distressed.” His past mistakes—especially his betrayal of Esau—seem to have caught up with him. Although Jacob had matured and changed, he feared Esau hadn’t and still harbored thoughts of revenge (Genesis 27:41).
This was a God-sized problem that Jacob couldn’t solve on his own. But God had been preparing him, as shown in His recent deliverance of Jacob from a tense encounter with his father-in-law (Genesis 31). That trial strengthened Jacob’s faith for this new challenge.
In Genesis 32:9-12, Jacob’s heartfelt prayer demonstrates how we, too, can approach fearful situations. He repeatedly reminds God of His promises, saying, “as You promised me.” In moments of fear, we must anchor ourselves in God’s promises—both those found in Scripture and those spoken to us personally. Speak these promises aloud to reaffirm your faith, for “faith comes by hearing.” Declaring His words strengthens our confidence and enables us to walk forward boldly.
Had Jacob allowed fear to paralyze him, he might have missed the beautiful destiny God had planned for him and his family. Instead, by leaning on God’s unfailing promises, Jacob passed another critical test of faith. May you, too, trust in God’s promises and move forward into the plans He has for you, no matter the obstacles.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing promises that guide and strengthen us. When fear tries to take hold, remind us of Your faithfulness and the truths You’ve spoken over our lives. Help us to declare Your promises with boldness, trusting that You are with us in every trial. Just as You guided Jacob, lead us into the beautiful plans You have prepared for us. We place our trust in You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
