The Forever Blessing of God’s “Nevers”

The word “never” has two dominant characteristics. It speaks of eternity (in the sense of never-ending) and it is an absolute‑there is no room for equivocation. So, when we hear God (or his prophets, Apostles, or evangelists) speak of “never” we should take notice.

The focus of this piece is on the never-ending, absolute promises God gives us around which we can build a life worth living, an abundant life. For example, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5.) And, “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

Never go hungry? Never be thirsty? Obviously, these promises must be understood as physical metaphors of spiritual needs and realities. For example, we thirst daily-it’s our body’s signal to hydrate. But the thirst which God quenches is our thirst for Him.

In this sense, the choice we are faced with when considering God’s promises is this: can we look beyond our physical selves and the world we inhabit to what God desires for us in the world He inhabits?

That is not to say that our human needs are not important. We are told, for example, “He knows our needs before we even ask” and so we may look to Him for our survival, fulfilment, and happiness. But He knows of even higher needs and these He promises to fulfill without end or compromise.

Below you will find a selection of Scriptural “nevers” around which you may find comfort, strength, and hope. Take out your Bible, examine the entire chapter for context and richness of thought, open a commentary for insight, then read and digest.

And let this be the ultimate promise to carry you through each day:

“Love never fails.”
(1 Corinthians 13:8)

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Selected “Never” Promises Of God

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8

I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you,
Judges 2:1

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10

I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail.
Psalm 89:28

But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.
Isaiah 51:6

The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
Zephaniah 3:15

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Matthew 24:35

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Luke 12:33

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.
John 4:14

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:35

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,  but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

and whoever lives by believing in me will neverdie.
John 11:26

Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
Romans 4:8

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Romans 10:11

Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:8

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; neverwill I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.
Revelation 7:16

(All Scripture is from the New International Version and is presented as they appear sequentially in the Bible.)