Carl Lewis won his first gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics. His father died one year before the next Olympics. At the funeral, Lewis took his gold medal and placed it in his father’s casket. His mom wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but he said, “Don’t worry, Mom; I’ll win another.”

The 1988 Olympic 100m dash meant a lot to Lewis. He ran the fastest 100m of his life but finished second to a Canadian, Ben Johnson. Three days later, Johnson tested positive for steroids. His gold medal was given to Lewis, who then kept the promise he had made to his mom. However, he was reminded that no matter how great the promises are, no matter how hard you work to keep them, challenges will sometimes make it hard or even impossible for you to do it.

It’s why marriages fail, hearts are full of guilt, and relationships break. Because we’re up against Satan and his temptations. We’re proof that it’s hard to keep a promise. 

It was hard for Jesus too—to hang on a cross, to suffer, to keep his promise to love and forgive us. But he did. And because he kept that promise, you can be confident that he’ll also keep this one: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).