Sunday April 3, 2022
I Defer
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. (Pro.13:12)
Sick…that’s a pretty descriptive word picture for us, especially now on the tail end of a pandemic. And how many times have you heard someone say, “I’m sick of this” or, “I’m sick of that?” We kind of throw that word around. But the word sick in Hebrew gives us a somewhat different picture. It’s not so much an ailment as it is an attitude or state of being. It means, “to be rubbed or worn; hence to be weak, sick, afflicted.” Sounds like many people I know. They seem weary, tired, and simply worn down.
Then there are others who don’t seem to be affected by the things going on in this world or even in their own small personal world. Joseph was one of those people and we can learn a lot from him. Joseph had a dream (Gen.37:6-7)…a dream that would not come to full fruition for another thirty years. But he held on to that dream through all the trials of his life…and there were many! He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, thrown into prison unjustly, was falsely accused of rape, and abandoned by those whom he had trusted, holding on all the more to his dream….holding on to hope. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of dream)
Hope is very powerful. It brings gladness to our souls (Pro.10:28), and strength to our hearts (Ps.31:24). It purifies our minds (1 Jn.3:3), and anchors our emotions (Heb.6:19). Well that pretty much covers our being! But hope that is lost makes the heart sick.
Now there is a difference between wishing and hope. We often say things like, “Oh, I wish I would have…” or, “I wish I hadn’t done…” The word wish means, “to feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that is not easily attainable; want something that cannot or probably will not happen.” This is not hope. Wishing will disappoint us, true hope never will.
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom.5:5)
The biblical definition of hope is very different from that of wishing. It means, “to anticipate, usually with pleasure, expectation or confidence.” You see, hope is not a feeling we get inside…it’s not even a feeling. Hope is centered entirely upon a person…Jesus.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Pet.1:3)
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Heb.10:23)
Our blessed hope is the Lord! There are many times when we shut our spiritual eyes of hope because we have been blinded by the overwhelming circumstances that our natural eyes see. But we, as believers, have a hope in what we cannot see (Rom.8:25). Paul likens this battle of seen and unseen hope to standing trial for believing in and having hope in the promises of God.
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. (Acts 26:6)
May we never be found heartsick by letting go and giving up on the promises, dreams, and hopes we have in Him. I won’t defer to hopelessness…I defer to hope!! Amen!
