Have you ever made a promise to yourself that felt right at the time—maybe even necessary—but it was never a promise God asked you to make? Maybe someone you trusted let you down. You were hurt, and in that pain, and you told yourself, “I’m not going to let anyone get that close again. I’ll only trust people who prove themselves first.” Or maybe you went through a difficult season of sickness and felt like a burden to others. So, afterwards, you quietly promise yourself, “I don’t want to be a burden to anyone again. From now on, I’ll take care of myself.” These kinds of promises, or vows, are often born out of pain, disappointment, anger, or fear. They can seem wise, even noble, at the time, but they can harden our hearts. They can keep us from trusting others, from receiving help, or even from drawing near to God. And more often than not, they were never promises God never asked you to make.