Yes, it happens at times where we say we will do something and then we don’t for one reason or another. My younger boys pounce on that right now. They say, “Daddy, you told us that and now you aren’t doing it? Did you tell a lie?”. 

Paul is writing his second letter to the church in Corinth. At some point he told them he hoped to visit and that didn’t come to pass. They are accusing Paul of not doing what he said would do. 

“Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.” 2 Corinthians 1:17-19 

The testimony of Paul’s life was evident of his yes being yes. He was faithful to do what he believed the Holy Spirit led him to do. This letter was written after three missionary trips to places near and far. Paul was anything but unfaithful or misleading. This is not to pump Paul up but to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit thru Paul’s life to build in him faithfulness and truth. 

Paul continues to say the reason for him not coming to Corinth wasn’t because of selfish reasons but out of concern for them. We don’t have all the details of why Paul didn’t go but from the testimony of his life we can rest assure he was being led by the Lord.

There will be times in life where things don’t go as planned. You may tell someone one thing and due to circumstances, it doesn’t come to pass. A question we can ask ourselves though: Is it most times that people see in me that I do what I say or most times I don’t do what I say? As we pursue Christ, He wants to build in us faithfulness and truth (even in hard situations). That’s where our true testimony is shown. When people see us doing what we say even when it doesn’t benefit us. Jesus exhibited that by going to the cross. Decide today (before the situation arises) you will be a person who does what they say they will do for the glory of the Lord and be a person that shows grace to others when something happens, and they don’t. Live in truth, live in grace. 

- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.