Fools Rush In
Living With Integrity, Not Broken Promises.
As I enter 2026, I peel back layers of vulnerability as a novice writer, feeling both excited and uneasy. Each time I sit to write, anxiety knots my stomach, and I hope for something worthy that reflects God's intent. Yet, as my fingers dance across the keyboard, my unease transforms into a rush of creativity. So here begins my NEW Year blogging journey!
Balancing my time with writing a blog, meeting friends for coffee, and attending social events can be challenging for my introverted nature. I often wish to retreat to the comfort of my home, especially recalling the preferred isolation of the pandemic. However, I understand that I can't fulfill God's purpose from behind those walls. I pray for strength from Jesus to help me step into uncomfortable situations with integrity, honoring my commitment to serve Him.
I don’t just jump headfirst off a 100-foot cliff; that would be foolish. Instead, I begin each day in the presence of God, seeking His guidance and support. I make sure He is front and center so that when I stumble or trip, He is there to catch me and keep me moving forward.
Committing to share what I learn and the whispers of God’s Spirit is vital to my writing journey. I've learned not to overcommit my schedule to avoid overwhelming obligations. I strive to resist people-pleasing and instead focus on what is truly God-driven. This helps me use my time wisely. To stay on course, I prioritize daily self-reflection aligned with my schedule. I often ask myself, “Why do I do what I do?”
During today’s sermon, the pastor addressed the common tendency for people to set ambitious goals for the new year, only to see them fade away soon after, forgotten and unfulfilled.
This made me realize how easily our commitments can slip away, often lost in the busyness of everyday life. The issue is that these commitments were made with good intentions, typically because we wanted to engage in activities that would help us become better individuals or help others. Which leads me to question, “Why does the integrity of our commitment sometimes diminish?”
Spiritual integrity aligns with our promises to God and with God’s will.
This brings us back to the question: “Why do we do what we do, and why do we want to do it?” Does our commitment or vow align with God’s will? Are we pursuing this commitment or vow because it would glorify God? Is this desire to take action stemming from a belief that others perceive as a flaw in us, prompting us to work on it to appear better? How many of us move forward, jumping in without preparing ourselves mentally and spiritually for the journey?
Is this promise or vow what God wants me to invest my energy in?
In the character of integrity, relying on God’s strength helps avoid empty promises and adds completeness to our commitments. We often struggle to fulfill our commitments and tend to give up because we try to achieve our goals using only our own strength and resources, rather than seeking God's help throughout the process. As a result, we sometimes abandon our efforts rather than work through the challenges that make it difficult to reach the finish line.
Our faithfulness should drive the importance we place on our commitments to God, ourselves, and others. This gives it integrity and intentionality rather than empty promises and unfulfilled goals.
Have you ever promised to pray for someone and then forgotten?
Have you ever made a commitment to yourself not to do something, only to end up doing it again?
Perhaps you made a promise and negotiated with God, saying something like, "If you do this for me, God, then I will..."
I promised myself that I would start small and not have any sweets on the first day of January. However, by 4:00 PM, I found myself in the cabinet, and within 60 seconds, I was dipping a cookie in my hot tea. Why did this happen? Because I didn’t seek help from God in my moment of weakness. I relied solely on my own strength—or lack thereof—and broke my promise to myself.
The moment I felt the desire for a cookie, I should have paused to talk to God for support in my moment of weakness. If that didn’t help, I should have taken a step back when standing in front of the open cabinet, my mouth watering as I gazed at the treats with longing in my eyes. Instead of doing that, I dove right in and found myself sitting in the seat of shame, dipping a cookie that I didn’t even like, just to satisfy my craving for something sweet.
Why did I make that commitment in the first place? Because I wanted to take action in making a healthy choice. God wants that for me, right? And yet, I didn’t even flinch in my moment of frailty. I choose not to lean on Him when I really need to.
This may be an uncomplicated, straightforward example; however, if I choose to do this for the most basic promise, what will I do when I’m in a much larger, more complex situation? (Examples: Marriages in dealing with those rough times, friendships with words we are easily offended by, work commitments, like meeting deadlines, etc.)
Will I jump overboard and abandon ship, or will I seek God’s help? This frightens me, friends! I personally much rather stumble and get back up, continuing to strive for a lasting good choice, than dive in full force, fail, and abandon the finish line. I need reinforcements, others who can be there to make sure there are no sweets brought into the house. I need more than just a prayer; I need an army of people!
Pay attention, friends! We often rush in like fools, overlooking the importance of our promises and vows. How easily do we set them aside?
What does scripture say about this? Let’s explore those words together. And I mean TOGETHER! For we can’t do it alone, we need God and each other to hold us accountable.
1. MIND OVER MATTER: Preparing yourself mentally for growth in every step you take.
“An impulsive vow is a trap; later you’ll wish you could get out of it.” (Proverbs 20:25 MSG)
People pleasing and making promises when we put our own priorities at risk is a trap. Commitments that stem from a people-pleasing place often lead to resentment and regret. Then there are people who often manipulate scripture to serve their own interests, seeking relationships outside marriage or pursuing self-happiness rather than facing challenges, breaking their vows. All too often do I hear stories of those in the non-profit sector who embezzle funds or exploit the vulnerable. Those character traits become those of a hypocrite who gives a bad name to Christians who say they made a promise to follow Jesus. Vows made to God or His children carry significant accountability and should not be taken lightly. When faced with temptation, we often make excuses that lead us away from our commitments. Preparing mentally before making promises and considering the consequences increases the likelihood of follow-through, as it connects our heart, mind, and actions.
2. PERSONAL INTEGRITY: Follow through on your promise.
“So when you talk to God and vow to him that you will do something, don’t delay in doing it, for God has no pleasure in fools. Keep your promise to him. It is far better not to say you’ll do something than to say you will and then not do it.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 TLB)
Fulfilling your vows builds integrity. However, when we fail to follow through on our commitments or choose to abandon them, it displeases both God and the person to whom we made the promise. In such cases, we are essentially making false promises without any true spiritual commitment, deceiving ourselves and the recipient. We often neglect our promises and break them because we find something more appealing, or because daily distractions take precedence. To support this, we should strive to form a daily spiritual connection and cultivate a mindset that takes our commitments seriously.
3. INTENTIONAL PROMISES: Making promises for God’s purpose.
“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.” (Matthew 5:33-37 MSG)
The words we choose when making vows and promises can greatly affect our relationships and our spiritual well-being. If we vow to obey the commandments but then create exceptions to the law, we are deceiving ourselves. Our promises should be made with intention, without any escape plan. Do the commitments we make, or the promises given to us, simply reflect what others want to hear? Are we safeguarding our promises and ensuring they are fulfilled as God intended?
Too often, we see fellow believers in Christ making promises that ultimately serve their own interests. Are your promises intentional? Are they rooted in truthfulness, or are they driven by a desire to please others or yourself?
In conclusion, it is vital to uphold truthfulness and integrity in our commitments, as empty promises can lead to disappointment. Before making vows, seek God’s guidance and wisdom. Approach this important act with intentionality and a true spiritual connection, ensuring your promises align with His divine plan for your life. Let each promise be a reflection of your faith and commitment.
