“Hope deferred (delayed) makes the heart sick…” (Prov. 13:12a)
We have dreams and purposes; expectations for life. We want to get married, have kids, go to a certain school, achieve a certain level of job success; and live a long and happy life. Sometimes these dreams and purposes are realized, and sometimes they’re not. And when they meet up against real life challenges, and things aren’t as easy and aren’t going the way that we would have thought, real life batters and beats up our hopes, dreams, purposes, and our expectations. And if we’re not careful, the storm clouds of bitterness, negativity, disillusionment, and discouragement can begin to crowd in on our hopes. “…but… DESIRE FULFILLED IS A TREE OF LIFE.” (Prov. 13:12b)
“…we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because GOD’S LOVE HAS BEEN POURED OUT INTO OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, who has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:2-5)
THANK GOD, HE KNOWS HOW, AND IS MORE THAN ABLE, TO ALWAYS PROVIDE US WITH JUST WHAT WE NEED…
-Bill Stockham