God’s “Yes” in Christ

Reading : 2 Corinthians 1:12–22

For no matter how many promises God has made, 

they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:20

Paul writes to the Corinthians with deep honesty, explaining his changed travel plans and defending the integrity of his ministry. Yet beneath this personal explanation lies a profound truth: God is not like us—uncertain, inconsistent, or wavering. Paul insists that just as his message about Christ was not “Yes and No,” so God’s promises are not uncertain. Instead, they are firmly established in Christ: “Yes.” During Lent, we are invited to reflect on this unshakable foundation. Our faith does not rest on shifting circumstances or human reliability, but on the steady, faithful character of God. What God has spoken, He will fulfill.

This passage calls us not only to admire God’s promises but to trust them personally. Lent becomes a season of realignment—where we turn from doubt and lean into faith. When life feels uncertain, when plans change, when outcomes are unclear, we are reminded that God’s promises remain unchanged. Eugene Peterson often emphasized that the Christian life is lived in response to God’s sure Word, not our fluctuating feelings. To claim God’s promises as our own is to say, “Lord, even when I do not understand, I trust that Your ‘Yes’ stands firm in my life.” This kind of faith grows quietly, strengthened through prayer, reflection, and surrender.

Paul goes even further—he reminds us that God has “set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:22). This is one of the most beautiful promises of all: not only has God spoken, but He has given us His Spirit as assurance that His promises will be completed. Alexander Maclaren wrote, “The pledge of the future is the presence of God in the present.” In Lent, we walk toward the cross and resurrection with this confidence. The God who has begun His work in us will bring it to completion. Therefore, we can believe His promises, rest in His faithfulness, and claim His Word as our own with humble confidence.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You that all Your promises are “Yes” in Jesus Christ. Teach us to trust You more deeply, especially when life feels uncertain. Help us to believe Your Word, to rest in Your faithfulness, and to claim Your promises as our own. Thank You for giving us Your Spirit as a guarantee of what is to come. Strengthen our hearts during this Lenten season, that we may walk in faith, hope, and confidence in You.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.