Hope deferred ∙

Hope deferred ∙

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. – Proverbs 13:12

Psalms 119:81 I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word.

Psalms 73:26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

The year 2021 was characterized by a worldwide scarcity of computer chips and disruptions in supply chains. The global shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic brought manufacturing to a standstill. As economies began to recover, hundreds of container ships were left waiting at sea to unload on the West Coast. There were not enough dockworkers to unload the ships, nor were drivers and trucks available to carry the merchandise by road. Consequently, consumers were warned to expect shortages of merchandise, from toys and clothes to appliances. Delays in order fulfillment became commonplace. Global supply chain disruptions wreaked havoc, creating universal delays. Disappointment became the new norm for many.

When our desires and dreams are postponed, it’s natural to feel impatient, yearn for what’s missing, and experience disappointment, sadness, and heartache.

Proverbs 13:1 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

This verse presents a stark contrast between the joy of realizing our hopes and desires and the sorrow of them remaining unfulfilled or incomplete. When hope is delayed or put off for too long, it can cause the heart to become sick. But when a longing or desire is fulfilled, it’s like a tree of life.

“When hope for success in life is deferred or drawn out too long, hope dies, and the whole body sickens. When, on the other hand, even glimmers of success appear, it is as though the ‘sap’ of life has been restored. Then one has a heart at peace (Proverbs 14:30); the inner life is more tranquil, even-tempered (Cohen) rather than being agitated (full of envy, which rots the bones); serenity like this is also conducive to health (gives life to the body, Proverbs 14:30a).” (John W. Miller).

The Hebrew word translated as deferred is mashak. Mashak is the passive form of a verb whose primary meaning is to drag or draw. Thus, it connotes something held back for a later time, a long-drawn-out process. It refers to when the fulfillment of our hopes and expectations is delayed or postponed.

The Hebrew term for heart is leb. Leb often refers to the physical organ and one’s mental or emotional center. Sometimes, it connotes the whole person. The figurative expression makes the heart sick, suggesting it “causes a person to despair or be afflicted” (USB). The phrase has been translated as “heart is crushed” (TEV).

The Hebrew term for desire is taavah. Taavah refers to something that is desired or sought after. A desire may refer to something positive that is wanted or looked forward to. It rhymes in thought with the word hope earlier in the verse.

Fulfilled is the translation of the Hebrew word vaah, which means to bring things desired into effect or to realize them.

This verse can be restated, “If a person thinks about getting something but has to wait a long time for it, he will be very sad” (UBS).

When our dreams, hopes, and aspirations are realized, everything seems right with the world; when they are not, the world becomes a very sad, dark, and lonely place.

REFLECT & PRAY

Regardless of the situation or circumstance, we should always go first to the Father for His counsel. We should tell our own souls what King Jehoshaphat told the king of Israel: “But first let’s find out what the LORD says” (1 Kings 22:5) (Stanley).

Father what a delight to say, “You are the stronghold of my life.” I place my confidence in You.

INSIGHT

The Father guides every child of the King through an amazing process known as the Death of a Vision. Our dreams and hopes crumble, leaving us devastated and heartbroken.

When our dreams disintegrate, the burden of unrealized expectations, letdowns, and betrayals push us to rock bottom. However, these agonizing experiences are the Father’s method of grooming us for what’s next. They often serve as necessary stepping stones towards the realization of the dream.

“This period of anticipation presents us with the chance to cultivate a character resembling Christ, to acknowledge our weaknesses and shortcomings, and to entrust God to manifest His strength and bring the vision to fruition” (Gothard).

How we react to these circumstances is crucial. The most challenging part is preserving faith and trust during the waiting period. An extraordinary metamorphosis takes place when we respond appropriately. We recognize His ultimate authority and understand that He always seeks our best. We simply ask, “What would you have your servant do?”

Ultimately, our budding dreams come to life in ways that frequently exceed our wildest imaginations.

When faced with deferred hope, how should we respond? What choices do we have? We can choose to patiently wait and maintain our trust in the Father. Or, we could succumb to feelings of discouragement, desolation, disappointment, and depression.

Psalms 27:13-14

 13 Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

 14 Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Psalms 27 is a psalm of confidence and courage. It starts with the question, “The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” It ends with, “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”

Every child of the King has the Father with them and in them (John 14:17), and each can say, “The Lord is the stronghold of my life.” “We can be calm and confident, courageous and brave. How? Because God gives us himself. And if we have him, we have no need to fear” (BKC).

David asserts his total confidence in the Father. This assurance is a core element of David’s faith and life. David knows the Father God. He knows what the Father has done for him. It all grows out of his personal relationship with God. David could never get enough of God.

Psalms 27:4 The one thing I ask of the LORD – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

What is his greatest ambition in life? Knowing God! Living in “the house of the LORD” (Psalms 27:4) is a picture of the children of the King enjoying the Father’s presence constantly.

“God himself is the greatest gift for which we could ask. He reveals his beauty in his generous goodness to his people. There is nothing better than he, bigger than he, greater than he, grander than he, more satisfying than he, more enjoyable than he, more dependable than he, more fun than he, more lasting than he, or more rewarding than God is himself. We would be fools to ask for anything less than God” (James A. Johnston).

When our hope is unrealized, put off, or drawn out, the natural result is disappointment (heart sickness). But when our hope is fulfilled. We are refreshed. The realization of hope fulfilled encourages us like a life-giving tree (BKC).

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© Dr. H 2024