Deferred Hope
Good Morning Friends,
The anticipations and expectations of life teach us that peace comes when we base our hope in God not circumstances. We learn that faith alone does not guarantee desired outcomes. If we look back over our life we might learn that when we placed circumstances above God we lived in idolatry and were robbed of life. So do not be discouraged when the Christian life is more difficult and challenging that you expected. Ask yourself if you were any better off for having denied joy and willfully Deferred Hope.
Scripture: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 146:5-10 (NRSV)
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:18-31 (NRSV)
Message: Friends, we are to find joy in the situations of life when our mind tells us it should not exist. But we need to let God open our blind eyes to experience it. We are never to believe we are finished because we have made a mistake or because things did not go the way we planned them. Christian hope is based in God not circumstances. Here God uses disappointment as His appointment to develop our character. Here we discover that God’s gifts are perfect, but we have to work for them and in and through them God will make us perfect. Friends, in order for us to affirm and encourage others we must first accept God’s love in our lives and His love must take priority. Then fear can be caste out. Then we can dream dreams and think about new and creative ways of helping, because the dream will never supersede God. Worldly hope is a combination of wanting and expecting but Biblical hope is the experience of optimism in spite of the circumstances of tribulations because we are in a relationship that supersedes it. It is living into a promise. It is experiential and unshakeable. It is blessed by a guarantee. It is nothing less than the persistent work of the Spirit…a dance of faith, hope and love. Sure hope is to reflect our personal desires and yes sometimes these are spiritual desires realized in God’s timing. There is a season of waiting. Abraham had to wait. Joseph had to wait. Moses had to wait. David had to wait for their dreams to become reality. There is danger of giving up in frustration when we defer hope. Friends, success in life and especially at the end of life is not closing the next deal, it is glorifying God and praising Jesus’ love in the purpose we have been given. Do not defer the experience of God…embrace the love, for it is the hope of life. Friends, when everything seems hopeless, we are to believe anyway. Wait and hope in the Lord and your heart will be strengthened.
Pray we learn to hope in spite of our situations. Pray we not become sick of heart…depressed by circumstances. Pray we not turn from God in the time of waiting. Pray we are not tempted and infected by false substitutes when hope is deferred. Pray we are instead encouraged by the great hope and promise of God. Pray we understand the vitality of hope when it is in God. Pray we not sell out to our fears and settle for second best. Pray we are all in for God. Pray we learn God’s dream for our lives. Pray we live for His purpose. Pray we discover our spiritual gifts. Pray we discover our true heart’s desire. Pray we use our abilities, personality and experiences to serve God. Pray we are not a prisoner to our past. Pray that we make decisions that build our character. Pray we never lose sight of God’s vision and purpose for our lives.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 