Joshua 19-20 / Luke 19:28-48 / Psalm 88 / Proverbs 13:12-14
There is a verse in today’s reading that keeps being stated by myself and friends in my Jesus circle, so I want to take a closer look for better understanding. When multiple people are speaking the same thing, it’s a good idea to investigate what God is saying.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
When we hope for something based on a promise given, that promise doesn’t usually come right away. God may tell us something and we think the fulfillment will come “tomorrow”, but most of the time that is not the case. Promises and dreams can take more time to be fulfilled than we wish.
And in the waiting, our hearts may become discouraged. We may become angry, sad, or despondent, sure that the thing we’re waiting for is taking too long. If we wait with our eyes on the promise, we may experience great discouragement and might be tempted to give up.
What if we instead kept our eyes on the One Who promised? He is the faithful One and what He said will come to pass in His timing and according to His perspective. We’re a hurry up kind of race (the human race), but God has all the time in the world. And because we are finite in our understanding, we may think the promise will come a certain way and at a certain time. But God knows the best time and way.
Here’s another thought, if the promise is going to come at a time and in such a way that we don’t expect, we may miss the fulfillment if we’re hanging all our hope there. But if our eyes are fixed on Jesus, He will be able to tell us – do you remember that thing I promised? That thing you’ve been hoping for? There it is! This is how I chose to give you the blessing I promised.
This reminds me of the Jewish people as they waited for the promised Messiah. He didn’t come the way they expected. They thought He was coming as a conquering King to free them from Roman rule. So, when He was born in a crude stable, became a carpenter from a small town, and grew up with nothing remarkable happening until He was 30, the religious leaders missed it.
Their eyes were on the method, not on the One Who was coming. I don’t want to miss His arrivals in my life! I don’t want to miss the little fulfillments that will be scattered all throughout my life. That’s why I must maintain relationship and connection with Him. If I’m looking into His eyes, I’ll see that glint of joy when He’s about to do something good for me!
Let’s remember to worship the Creator and not the creation – the One who promised and not the promises. Then we can turn around and thank Him for all He’s done!
