Hope Deferred Makes The Heart Sick....

I have heard this scripture quoted when things didn't go some one's way. Sometimes it would be after an attempt to buy a home, or make a business move or something. It might come after a failed relationship, but whatever the case, I often heard that scripture partially quoted. I will quote the entire scripture: Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life, (Prov. 13:12 KJV).

People quote the painful part, but not the hopeful part of that scripture. I'm not sure why. What that says to me is "Keep on hoping, and keep on trusting God for the fulfillment of your hope." I also know that faith and hope are two necessary, but different things. Hope is confident expectation. Faith is confident assurance and a relying on God that what you have hoped for has already happened, by faith. This is always subject to the will of God, which is his Word.  Remember the scripture in Hebrew 11:1, Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is also a spiritual force that has actions to support it. In other words, if you have faith that something that God has promised you has happened, by faith, you will have corresponding actions.

I know there are different schools of thought on how faith works, the faith of God to perform miracles, or the initial faith to be saved. I don't intend to get into a sermon here on the pros and cons of any one belief system. I don't think any Christian would argue that the two scriptures mentioned above are in the Bible, and are there for a reason.

I want to address the journey between promise and fulfillment. I am in that journey right now. I have put my faith out there for a number of things. I also adhere to the scripture, But, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you (Matt 6:33). Some Christians don't even ask for things, but just keep seeking God knowing that the things they have need of he will supply. I agree. I just want to be clear on the journey to travel as I wait patiently for these things, pathways, opportunities to become clearer to me. I will give you an example. There are things clearly stated in the Bible, as I have already mentioned, that may need some personal instruction for the believer. One might wonder, do I move here or there? Do I take this job or that one? Do I nurture this relationship or that one? These are the things that make my walk with God very personal and dependent upon him.

How do you make potentially life changing decisions with confidence, not in whether or not God has an answer, or cares about the outcome, that's a given, but that YOU are hearing him correctly? That is the question I ask myself. Abraham thought sleeping with Hagar was a needed adjustment. Think about it, his own wife made the suggestion. Jonah dodged Nineveh with grave consequence. Paul made decisions, according to God's will, that led him straight to jail. Jesus Christ himself prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to have this cup pass, but nevertheless, let thy will be done. That says a lot. Jesus knew he came to die, yet as the time approached, he spoke to the Father about making a change. I am grateful that he was willing to go the distance, according to the Father's will. This also says to me that unpleasant circumstances do not mean that you are outside of the will of God. That's the ultimate goal, to be in his will and plan, regardless of what it costs you personally. That can be a tough pill to swallow at times. Nevertheless, that is his expectation of us.

I know I'm in good company as a believer as I pray over, study God's word,  and get wise counsel over some  major decisions that have the potential to be life changing. I will allow myself the time and space to seek God concerning the how of his will. Typically, it is one step at a time with me. I see it like the Michael Jackson, Billie Jean video. That might seem like a weird thing to think of when writing about faith, but I think it's something we can relate to, and it gives you a good visual.  If you remember it, as he stepped, the next square lit up. He never walked, and saw the whole pathway light up. I see my faith walk like that. The next square or tile in my Christian walk lights as I step ahead. I never get the complete plan, just one piece at a time. I guess we all do. That's why faith is required. If you can see it, why would you need faith to believe it?

Sometimes I don't even think it's about making all the right moves, at least not on our own. Of course we don't want to blunder those important life changing decisions, but lets face it, we won't always be on point. We will miss it at times. I think it's the reliance on God to get us back on track, after a misstep, that is so important.

I also know that a major blunder, like moving too soon, or falling behind step in the leading of the Holy Spirit can cost you big. I'm trying so hard to avoid one of those. Think about it, if Isaac, after God told him not to go to Egypt, when everyone else was going during a famine, (Genesis 26) had done it anyway, he might have died. His family would have suffered. The Lord told him to stay were he was, plant in that famine, and he saw a harvest that same year. I know we have to be so careful not to run ahead of God, or to lag behind him  as he leads us.

My prayer for you today will be that you will be in God's will, and right in the middle of his timing. I pray that the tree of life spoken of in Proverbs 13:12 will be yours, even if your hope has been deferred, and you've suffered. Keep on hoping and keep walking by faith!