Tea Time with Tina

THE PROMISE KEEPER

written by Tina Gallo

Some years ago, I made a covenant with someone I had shared my secrets and dreams with for years. This was someone I should have been able to trust completely. We did life together, and I believed with all my heart I could rely on this person, but a promise that was made to me was reneged on and broken. At first I was shocked, but then the pain of betrayal set in, leaving me completely numb.

My shock quickly turned to anger and regret. Anger that I had been betrayed and regret that I had trusted this person in the first place. Feelings of brokenness from a bleeding heart filled my long days, followed by the constant pondering of questions that flooded my mind.

How would I ever trust again? Why was I so blind?

Broken promises hurt! They deeply wound, having the potential to sever relationships forever.

Anyone can make a promise. A promise is a pledge, a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or ensure that something specific will happen. We give our word with a commitment, entering into a covenant that holds ‘real value’ that should be linked with honor and faithfulness. But truthfully, how many of us have actually kept every promise we’ve ever made? We are all guilty of letting one another down, of failing to perfectly keep our word.

Our word is a statement of our status as a person, proving our credibility and authenticity. I remember my dad telling me that he grew up in a time when a person’s handshake was as solid as their word. From my father’s perspective, there was a time when a bond of loyalty was a common and expected element in relationships.

Unfortunately, the value of our words is becoming more flippant, emotionally reacted upon, and charged. We have seemingly lost the value of our word over time in society. The truth is we live in a tough world where it is inevitable that we will face struggles and heartache throughout our lifetime. Life is challenging; people WILL let us down and promises will be broken. As much as we may try to keep our word to others, unfortunately, we may fall short of carrying out our promises. It is only a matter of time before each of us experiences betrayal. Breached trust deposits disappointment into our souls and, if we are not careful, we will provide a permanent resting home for discouragement to rankle.

If someone you love has broken a promise to you as they did to me, you may feel stuck with a broken heart, wondering how you will ever move forward in trust again. The devil would like you to think that all is hopeless. He desires to destroy you and plots to keep you in bondage, isolated behind brick walls of false protection, imprisoned by a fearful hardened heart of unforgiveness.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV)

The enemy aims to make us feel fear and unforgiveness in areas where we have experienced betrayal. He wants to put you on an isolated island of unforgiveness, with your pain as your guide. Since Christ forgives us, however, we can freely forgive others. This does not mean that relationships and the hardships of sin won’t have consequences, for we know in this fallen world sin always leads

to rippled outcomes, but what it does mean is that God is the mender of the brokenhearted. We can always count on Him to fulfill His promises. He illuminates hope in the midst of our dark and dreary circumstances, like a brilliant gleaming sunrise. Our relationship with HIM can never be severed or tethered. We can experience Him as the mender of our aching hearts.

God is faithful to His Word all the time, not just sometimes or when He wants to be. He is our devoted Father whom we can depend on and rely on, and nothing will ever change that. So no matter what happens in life, we can hold on to this profound truth: God will never break His promises. He is worthy of our trust!

The LORD is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does. (Psalm 145:13 NIV)

God’s greatest promise was fulfilled when He sent Jesus to die on our behalf so that we can have eternal life in Him. If God fulfilled this sacred promise out of His love for us, then how can we ever doubt that He will keep the other promises He has made? He is the promise keeper!

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

Join me in forgiving those who have trespassed against you, as Christ has forgiven us eternally. Be free to trust only in a perfect God who will never disappoint or fail us. Remember, God will use all your pain for His glory and good, but be faithful to keep walking in forgiveness and bearing much fruit through surrender to our God, who is the perfect Father. Whatever He has allowed to pierce your side is reflective of how the spears of persecution pierced His. Remember, Jesus rose again. You, too, my sister, will rise from the ones who have intended to harm you. Trust in our Father, who will mend you, care for you, and provide for you during your time of pain! He is faithful and true.

Tina Gallo has been in the entertainment industry for over 40 years, she is an award-winning professional actress who “fully immerses herself in the character to bring life into each of her roles.” She is a Stanislavki method-trained actress who studied with the best: Lee Strasberg, Uta Hagen, Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner, and Jack Waltzer. Tina has extensive TV, Film, Commercial, and Theater credits.

She is best known for her past role as DiDi on the soap opera “General Hospital.”

After years of taking a step away from the industry to raise her children, the Lord stirred her heart by calling her to return to the spotlight. Tina’s relaunched career includes a zealous appreciation for the Lord to move in power in the acting world and film industry, and is expectant for how He will move. Tina’s passion has become a God-given purpose; she desires to orchestrate Christ-saturated media and beyond.

In between the blessing of acting, Tina teaches acting classes in person and online and is the founder of ‘The Nashville Studio of Method Acting’ in Nashville, TN.

You can register for online acting classes with Tina! She is accepting all experience levels – including adults, teenagers, and children.

Register at: www.tinagallo.com

Tina also coaches on film sets and travels to other acting schools throughout the southeast region to speak and coach acting workshops, online or in person. Contact Tina if you’re interested in inviting her to lead your next workshop, combining acting and Christian passion and purpose.