Counting Chickens Before They Hatch?

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” – 2 Peter 1:4

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch?” It means to be cautious about expectations and not depend on them happening because they may not come to fruition.

I remember a holiday movie in which the main character was so confident that he would receive a huge amount of money as an end-of-year bonus (as he had in previous years) that he purchased an in-ground pool for his family. When he received the notification of his bonus, it turned out to be a membership in a “jelly-of-the-month” club! He was so angry by this, and additionally he also had to face the daunting task of finding a way to pay for his extravagant purchase. He clearly “counted his chickens before they had hatched!”

Probably most of us can remember a time when we also counted our chickens before they hatched. Maybe you expected an invitation to a certain event by a special someone, and he or she chose to attend with someone else. Maybe you counted on getting a raise at work, and it never materialized. Maybe you were confident that a loved one would receive a clean bill of health, but the doctor’s report was bad news. These are all examples of counting one’s chickens before they have hatched.

However, Christians can count their chickens before they hatch! We can do so because every promise that God has made, He will keep. He has a perfect track record in keeping His word. Here are just a few promises that He has already fulfilled.

• God promised Abraham a son. “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.” – Genesis 18:10
• God promised He would never again destroy the world with a flood. “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” – Genesis 9:15
• God promised Israel the land. “And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.” – Joshua 21:43
• God promised to feed Elijah. “And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.” – 1 Kings 17:4
• God promised David that his son would build the temple. “And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.” – 1 Chronicles 28:6
• God promised to send His Son. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14

There are many more promises in the Bible that God has already fulfilled. Because of His faithfulness in these promises, we can depend upon God to keep His word with all the other promises He has made in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Depending upon God to do exactly what He has said He will do is not risk-taking for Christians. It is a certainty! Here are a few examples that we can definitely count on!

• God promises to hear my prayers. “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” – Proverbs 15:29
• God promises to help me. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10
• God promises to always be with me. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
• God promises to help me escape temptations. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
• God promises to forgive me. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
• God promises me eternal life with Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
• God promises He will come again. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:3
• God promises that He will be faithful to keep His word. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” – Hebrews 10:23

So, as Christians, we CAN count our chickens before they hatch! Praise the Lord!

Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

(from “Standing on the Promises” by Russell Kelso Carter)

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” – 2 Corinthians 7:1

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Trusting God is as easy as 1, 2, 3… you can count on His promises!