Ultimately, the deepest longing of your heart—eternal life with Jesus—will one day be fulfilled. This is a promise that every believer can count on; it will never be deferred.
Our family recently experienced Proverbs 13:12, which says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Having prayed fervently for a certain outcome, we were disappointed by news that was not in our favor. My mind immediately went to this verse I’d heard many times before, but when I looked it up, I was surprised to see a second half of it that said, “but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” In my sadness and disappointment, I’d almost missed the best part!
Fixing my mind on the words, “a longing fulfilled,” I found renewed hope that day. Though my heart was grieved, I was reminded that God was still at work and His promises were still true. I thanked Him for showing me the other half of hope deferred, providing hope for the future.
If you’re experiencing the heart sickness of hope deferred, remember the second half of Proverbs 13:12 and be encouraged today.
God Can Handle Difficult Questions
Somewhere on my faith journey, I was taught not to question God. I believed it was a sign of disrespect or a lack of faith. However, as I’ve spent more time with the Lord, communing with Him in deeper ways, I’ve grown comfortable asking difficult questions and confessing my disappointments.
Even the most faithful people in the Bible questioned the Lord. In Numbers 11:11, Moses asked, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?” In Psalm 10:1, David said, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” And Mary, Lazarus’ sister, pressed Jesus in her statement, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
In the middle of hope deferred, God can handle our difficult questions. He wants us to ask, seek, and knock. He would much rather we come to Him than turn to worldly influences that might lead us in the wrong direction.
Take your questions, concerns, and disappointments to the Father who loves you. With utmost respect for His sovereignty, go boldly to the throne and receive the answers you need.
His “No” Might Mean “Yes” Down the Road
What I love most about the other half of Proverbs 13:12 is that God’s “no” might mean “yes” down the road. While this isn’t always the case, it’s often a matter of timing. Because God sees the beginning from the end, He knows the exact outcome of every decision. Allowing us to feel disappointed in the short term sometimes leads to a longing fulfilled in the long term.
One example is found in 1 Samuel 1-2 as we follow Hannah’s journey of barrenness. The Bible says her grief went on “year after year” as she suffered through the torment of her rival’s provocation. In reading this, we might wonder why the Lord kept her womb closed for so long. But as her story unfolds, we see a greater plan for her firstborn son—a plan fulfilled in God’s perfect timing.
1 Samuel 1:20 says, “So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’” If we were to ask Hannah today if her precious son, Samuel, was worth the wait, I imagine she would give a resounding “yes.” Her barren years of brokenness were redeemed by God’s favor in the most profound way, and hope deferred became a longing fulfilled.
Take heart, my friend. If God’s “no” is painful today, ask for His future “yes” to fulfill your longings beyond what you could ever think or imagine.
He Is With You in the Disappointment
Sometimes, we never get the answer we hope for. It’s a difficult thing to accept, but it’s true. During these difficult times, it’s important to know God is still with us. Even when we can’t sense His nearness, we can trust the Scriptures that assure us of His faithful presence.
Here are a few comforting verses to take with you:
Psalm 31:19-20 says, “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.”
Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV) says, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
John 14:16-18 says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
Through every longing that goes unfulfilled, God is still with us. His reasons for allowing pain and disappointment far exceed our human rationale. However, we can fully trust Him to remain with us through the trial until our tree of life is revealed.
Your Tree of Life Is Waiting
Psalm 27:13-14 says, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Some of your earthly desires might not come to pass, but you are promised the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. What are you waiting for today? Don’t give up! Wait with eager expectation of what God will do. It could be the Lord has something far greater in store.
Ultimately, the deepest longing of your heart—eternal life with Jesus—will one day be fulfilled. This is a promise that every believer can count on; it will never be deferred.
Revelation 22:1-5 says, “And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.” (NASB)
Your tree of life is waiting, my friend. Today’s disappointments, though painful, will one day be met with healing and restoration. You can count on it.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Mimai Mig
