Delayed Hope

Most of us are familiar with the proverb, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 ESV

I’ve been pondering this proverb as I grapple with a good and godly desire that has not yet been fulfilled. My hope may seem minor to some but it is big to my heart.

While in a season of wait, it can cause the heart to ache, produce self-doubt, lies and all sorts of unwanted thoughts. Emotions can stay at bay or be triggered into an all-out emotional warfare…yikes, just me?! Maybe, but I’m guessing this might be true for a few of you too. I admit that I’ve played victim to this pain and have had way too many pit-y parties. God does not want us to be thumbed down by this season, so join me in seeing what we can do as we wait on our Lord.

A few thoughts on how we can reset our hearts and minds during this time:

Consider praying from ‘please provide’ to ‘use this time for your glory’.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV

Examine your heart to see if the desire, even if good and godly, is an idol of the heart.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  Psalm 139:23-24 ESV

Put your hope in the Creator, not the created.

…because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  Romans 1:25 ESV

Ask God what he wants to teach you during this time.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.  Psalm 25:5 ESV

Ask God to bring a purpose to the pain.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2-4 ESV

Understand that this time of waiting could be a tool used to conform us to Christ’s image, a process of dying or death to self.

And he said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it…”  Luke 9:23-24 ESV

Soak in God’s word day and night.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous, and then you will have good success.   Joshua 1:8 ESV

Just as an earthly parent wants to give to his child, so does our Heavenly Father. Let us continue to lift up our hearts and desires to the Lord. He hears us and he knows what is best in timing and in fulfilling the desires of our hearts!

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:11 ESV