Hope Deferred

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12

It’s hard to say no when your adorable little girl is pleading.  “Ice, pees.  Ice, pees.”  Once her toddler gibberish is deciphered, it is clear she would like me to give her some ice cream.  However, now is not the time for ice cream.  There is little (or no) nutritional value in ice cream, now is the time for a proper meal, with hope for dessert after.       

Self-denial, patience, long suffering, commitment, work.  These are just some of the words that people would rather avoid.  Carnality is content to keep us in this childish mindset.  The natural is not predisposed to things such as self-denial or patience.  We learn it.  We learn through experience, and instruction.  The Spirit of God, the Word of God, the counselors we surround ourselves with, and if we are blessed enough; good ole mom and dad, will educate us in the way hope deferred.  Both a learned, and ever refined trait.  Hope deferred is not immediate gratification.  It is not current, it is not instant, it is not easy.  However, it is vital.  From the earliest age, we must learn to wait.  Would it serve a toddler's best interest to give them ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?  No.  Would it serve their immediate interest?  In the case of my own toddler, absolutely.  One must ask, what would the end be if there is no instruction in hope deferred?  The things that plague our society today: abortion, gender identification, humanism, divorce, substance abuse, overwhelming financial debt, to name a few.  Ask yourself, do these things serve our best interest, or our immediate interest?  The ideology of “whatever serves you best” has invaded every fabric of our culture, combine that with the carnal nature to lust and it has created a tidal wave of self-gratification and self-indulgence.  One may say: “Who cares for morality, or even God? I want it, and I want it now.”  To this my reply is, where has this gotten you?  Are you better off than before?  Are we as a nation better off?  Divorce rates are fifty percent today, but at least we can marry who we want.  Eight hundred thousand abortions annually (in recent years), but at least we have a right to choose who we want.  Trillions of dollars in consumer debt, but at least we can buy whatever we want.  The average American citizen will spend nearly seven years of their life on social media, but at least we can say what we want.  Congratulations America, you have liberty to serve yourself, please yourself, and exalt yourself.  Now ask yourself, is this really liberty?  Or have you simply found yourself another master.  Yourself.  All the while, our loving heavenly Father has so much more for us.  While we are consuming the dregs, this world has to offer; if we but trust him; he can offer the tree of life.  A blessed union with Jesus Christ that promotes holiness of heart, holiness of life, and brings complete liberty.  God desire is to be a good Father to us, but that is only found in the way of hope deferred.     

“When the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”  In waiting there is trust, belief, faith.  When you submit to the Lord, and let him lead you, guide you, direct you.  It is the way of hope deferred.  There are times when it’s hard, when it hurts, when you hear the word “no.”  However, when desire cometh it is a tree of life.  When God blesses you, it is perfect, in every way.  If we continually seek to serve ourselves, we will continually find only bondage, but to seek the Lord, is to be students of hope deferred.  It is to have access to the tree of life, and a relationship with your heavenly Father.