No More Waiting

It was one of those moments that breaks your heart.  My unbelievably talented group of 3^rd grade world changers had gone above and beyond preparing speeches to run for student council representative. One exceptional young lady prepared a wonderful speech, which I could tell she had spent a good deal of time on the previous night.  The class voted for their top three candidates who would participate in a run-off later that week.  But this exceptional young lady did not make the cut. And my heart broke with hers.

Driving home from work all I could think about was Abraham Lincoln and how he failed so many times before he succeeded – and then proceeded to forever change history.  I have a hunch that she will learn, like Abe, the valuable lesson of persevering for breakthrough.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12

I’ve always translated this verse in my head, “Waiting makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”  Waiting, honestly can make the heart sick, I can certainly attest to that in my own life, and perhaps my little wonder girl and Abe can too.  But what I’ve come to meditate on when I read this verse now is the impossibility for hope to be deferred for those who are in Christ.  We are not waiting for hope to come along- it is here – it is Him.  Yes, we hope for things to come.  But our hearts have access to hope here and now. 

As we embrace this Christmas season, may our hearts be renewed and encouraged that hope will no longer be deferred – for unto us a Child is born…and his name will be the hope of all the world (Matt. 12:21).