Thoughts on a hope deferred (part 1)

It has been interesting to notice Proverbs 13:12 has been popping up a lot lately.  This verse reads, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”  In these crazy days, I certainly understand how this is on people’s minds.  I’ve decided to share some of my thoughts about this verse.  And by the way, this will take more than just this one blog installment.

I also wanted to share with you that I have experienced unmet dreams or “deferred hope” in my own life.  To be transparent with you, this can be intense at times.  Therefore, I want you to understand that I am directing this blog content to myself first and foremost.  This is not Kevin passing judgment on everyone, while sitting on his perfection perch.  No way!  I struggle with this subject matter, believe me.

 

As I dive in, the sentiments of Proverbs 13:12 are true, but doesn’t it just sound depressing? “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”  Isn’t that a little disheartening, particularly for those who haven’t had their longing fulfilled?    I resonated with one author named Jennie Pollack and her article on this verse from LICC.org (London Institute for Contemporary Christianity).  She wrote,

“I’ve often thought that Proverbs 13:12 is one of the most discouraging verses in the Bible.  The only promise it seems to offer is I’ll be fine when God finally gives me what I’m asking for…It’s important to remember that the book of Proverbs is a list of sayings and truisms – it speaks about the way the world is, not necessarily the way it ought to be.  For example, Proverbs 18:8 says “The words of a gossip are choice morsels, they go down to the inmost parts’, it doesn’t mean we ought to go spread around those juice tidbits.”   (Source: https://www.licc.org.uk/resources/hope-deferred-1/)

Personally, I don’t think the takeaway for this verse in Proverbs 13 is something as trite as “I want to have this item; it hurts that I don’t.  But all is going to be OK when it finally comes to fruition.”  What, then, is the takeaway?  With that rather long introduction, I can only give one today.  But I’ll cover more at a later time.

#1: A hope deferred can become a substitute god

Someone said, “It’s so important that marriage, or finding that person, or being in that relationship doesn’t become our substitute god.  So many people believe that, ‘If I had the guy, if I had the girl, I’d be happy and fulfilled.’  And they end up living for, and investing all their hope and trust in, that potential relationship.  God is clear… [a substitute god] will let us down, if we try to replace Him.  It’s so vital that we be living for Him.”  These stirring words were actually spoken by Joshua Harris in an interview back in the year 2000.

By the way, I have to go on a brief rabbit trail here, because I would be remiss if I didn’t say a word on this.  Today’s Joshua Harris has veered so far off the tracks that he has essentially disavowed the Christian faith he once boldly proclaimed.  It breaks my heart.  I earnestly wish today’s Joshua Harris could hear the inspirational words he had stated in that interview two decades ago, with ears to hear.

In conclusion, once again, I have unmet dreams.  While these are legitimate desires, if I am not careful, I can unintentionally begin to put my hope in the wrong thing.  My hope needs to be in God alone, not in the expectation of a realized dream.  Psalm 62:5 says, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.”

Kevin