Photo: C Jill Reed

We all love hearing about the (good) things God has said He’ll do for us—but what about the things God won’t do?

I guess there’s a good reason people focus on the positives: the positives are pretty amazing.

• God comforts His people (Is 51:11).
• God protects His people (Ps 121:7).
• God helps His people (Ps 115:11).

But hey—that’s only part of the picture. What about the things God is never, ever going to do for/to you?

I was curious about what sort of things we could count on God never doing, so I hit the books. I found not only a list of things God will never do, but also six over-arching categories of things we know God just won’t do to/for those who believe in Him.

6 things the Bible says God will never do

1. God is never going to give you up

Jesus says,

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” (Jn 6:37–39)

Jesus, the God-man, is the author of “eternal salvation” (He 5:9). He will never, ever give you up.

2. God will never let you down

The name of the Lord is a strong tower (Pr 18:10). The Lord is mighty—the Almighty (Re 19:6). He has made many promises, and He who promised is faithful (He 10:23).

God didn’t let down the Israelites in Egypt. He won’t let you down, either.

3. God is never going to run around and desert you

Even though Israel turned her back on God and pursued idols, God remained faithful. The book of Hosea gives us a brilliant example of God’s unfailing love to those who are unfaithful to Him:

Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” (Ho 3:1)

I really don’t like cake, but you get the point: God is faithful to His people. Paul reiterates this in his first letter to Timothy: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Ti 2:13).

God won’t desert you.

4. God is never going to make you cry

OK, this one’s a little iffy. We all cry a lot anyway (I mean, have you seen The Iron Giant?), and there are times in the Bible when God actually recommends or causes weeping:

• “In that day the Lord God of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing [. . .]” (Is 22:12), when the Lord judged Judah.
• Jesus says that He will “send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 13:41–42)
• And let’s not forget that beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Mt 5:4).

But it won’t always be this way for the redeemed. In the book of Revelation, John gets a glimpse of the coming new creation:

• “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Re 21:4).

This echoes the promises of the prophet Isaiah that all sorrow and sighing will flee away (Is 35:10, 51:11).

So although God’s present discipline isn’t pleasant (He 12:11), there will come a time when, thanks to God, we will never cry.

5. God is never going to say goodbye

He didn’t abandon Joshua (Dt 31:6; Jos 1:5), and the same promise applies to you: “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Heb 13:5).

6. God is never going to tell a lie and hurt you

God won’t lie; it’s impossible. Take it to the bank:

• “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Nu 23:19).
• “The Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind” (1 Sa 15:29).
• “[. . .] God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago” (Ti 1:2).
• “It is impossible for God to lie” (He 6:18).

If God says it, it’s true. Count on it: God is never going to tell a lie.

Have a nice April, everyone.

Oh, and if you’re seriously up for some real Bible study . . .

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Photo credit: C Jill Reed

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