As I greeted my friend, I asked, “How are you?” She immediately began to wipe away tears. Burdened with loneliness, she had watched as countless younger friends had married over the years—but she had not. As two more were set to wed soon, she wondered why she remained alone. Her heart’s desire remains, but as each year slips by, her fears of growing old alone intensify.

I knew—as she does—that God is faithful, more than sufficient, and always present. But simply to recount God’s promises to her didn’t seem appropriate. I would go home that night to a husband and children. I began to imagine life from her vantage point. Although singleness is—like marriage—a gift from God, my friend wanted to marry. So I simply assured her of my love and God’s love—something she truly needed to hear during our unexpected encounter in the hallway.

Genesis 15 records a similar ache in the heart of one who knew the frailty of his humanity. Carrying a God-given desire to have a child, Abraham had heard God’s promise of provision (Genesis 12:2, Genesis 13:14-16), but as days moved into weeks and then years, he asked, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?” (Genesis 15:8).

Instead of answering Abraham with a timeline of events, God responded with a sacred oath (Hebrews 6:13-17). Creating a covenant that no man could undo, He promised to fulfill what had been promised to Abraham.

Each one of us will leave this earth with unmet longings (Acts 7:5; Hebrews 11:8-10)—it’s the reality we face in an imperfect world. This truth, however, remains: God keeps His promises and answers our greatest longings with Himself (Psalm 34:4-5; Ephesians 2:12-13).

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 10:1-18