Hope Postponed

Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

Here's Josh E's expanded translation: When your hope for something gets drawn out and dragged through the dirt, your desire, passions and courage get tired, sore, and weak. BUT... When the longings of your heart are fulfilled, you are renewed, revived and sustained; the fulfillment makes you like a fruitful tree: strong, steadfast and alive!

I was reading in Genesis 25 this morning. It's the story of Isaac and Rebekah, and their desire to have children. Isaac pleads with God that his wife would give birth. The word used to describe Rebekah is "barren." Along with "infertile," the word "barren" is still employed to describe the state of not being able to have children. It's a cold, sad, and lifeless word. It's also used to paint a picture of the bleakness and lifelessness of a landscape. It's a hopeless word. It's a word that we use to describe ourselves, our situations and our world. But it's not a word God uses to describe us.

God answered Isaac's prayer. 20 years later, Rebekah gave birth to twins. Twenty years later. That's a long time to wait, isn't it? It's similar to Isaac's father and mother's story. Abraham and Sarah waited many years for the fulfillment of their desire to have children. It finally happened for them at an age when most people are already dead.

This isn't just about having kids; it's about the life God wants give birth to--in and through you. I can relate to this. Can you?

What's grown barren in your life? Have those dead places begun to encroach upon neighboring areas in your heart? God wants to revitalize your hope. While you and I will not experience the fulfillment of every desire we have in this life, God wants to and will satisfy many of longings in our hearts. Hope isn't about what's already in our grasp. This is a critical understanding. It's very important that certain things remain out of reach because hope is meant to keep us going and trusting in our Provider for what we don't yet have. But God isn't stingy, either; and He doesn't dangle carrots in front of us without actually letting us enjoy eating them from time to time.

Is there a desire in your heart that has become tired? Has your hope grown dim and your longings become weak? Are you grieving the death of something God wants to resurrect? Go to Him again. Ask Him again to fulfill that thing. Know that He intends to draw you closer to Him as you wait. AND ask Him to show you other desires that He has placed in you as well. He won't gloss over your pain. He will bring refreshment into the dry and weary places in your heart.