Hope

Thursday, December 01, 2011 Posted by Angie

Hope vs. Disappointment

How many times have you heard it said that “God gives us the desires of our heart”? I can’t even count how many…and it’s absolutely true. But what happens when you’re hoping for something and it hasn’t come yet? The Bible says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov. 13:12) I think we can all relate to that feeling at least one time or another in our lives. But this is especially true if you’re waiting on a promise you believe God Himself has given you.

Maybe that’s why this story in 2 Kings 4 captivates me – a Shunnamite women blesses Elisha, so he wants to bless her back. He prays for her to have a son. This was her secret desire, but one she NEVER asked for since it was too painful to risk not coming true. (2 Kings 4:16) She has a son…and then he dies!

2 Kings 4:28 - ““Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?” Of course the story has a happy ending – praise God!

However, it got me to think about the hidden desires of my heart – the ones that I don’t dare truly hope for. You see I have had things buried deep down inside that the Lord is resurrecting just now, and as much as I want these things, it scares me to think that they would be exposed.

What if I take a risk and it fails? What if I hope for something and it never happens? What if it does happen, but then it dies?

No…it’s much safer just to build walls around the desire and give no room for hope. That way I’ll never be disappointed. Except…won’t I be disappointed when I face my Lord knowing HE gave me these desires? Knowing also that I didn’t trust Him with them? Doesn’t His Word say that He who began a good work in me, is able to complete it? Did He begin this work?

The more I think about it…I am obligated to tear down those walls and let hope in. For we know that hope is the beginning of faith. You’ve heard it said:

“Faith is the substance (the tangible assurance, a display of absolute confidence) of things hoped for (a knowing that God is going to do EXACTLY what He’s promised), the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

I can rest and wait patiently until I see the manifestation of the very thing I’m hoping for. So let hope arise!!!