WHEN HOPE DEFERRED

 WHEN HOPE DEFERRED

PROVERBS 13:12, GENESIS 12:1-5; 15:1-4

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

          picture taken from Google
INTRODUCTION:

What does the word defer mean? 

Something "deferred" is put off, delayed, or suspended. The longer a person goes without seeing their hope realized, the more likely they are to become discouraged.

Have you ever had something  you've been waiting for God to do, and you wait and wait? It could be finding God's plan for your life. You hold on into it and then you still waiting  until now. For a while, you're good but you're thinking that time is running out for you. You look for situations and nothing change.

In Proverbs 13:12 we’re told, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” 

In tagalog... 

Ang matagal na paghihintay ay nagpapahina ng kalooban, ngunit ang pangarap na natupad ay may dulot na kasiyahan.

Deferred in this verse refers to a hopeless situation that feels long and drawn out. It’s the seemingly unending and disappointing kind of season that can leave us tempted to look at our lives and question, Why is God withholding this from me? 

LESSON POINTS:

 

1. STILL HOLD ON TO GOD'S PROMISES - In Genesis 15:2 Abraham and Sarah had their own struggles too like us. 

And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

Abraham and Sarah were childless and when God talked to Abraham and mentioned his great reward. Abraham mentioned what these rewards were for if they were childless. He mentioned that his steward in their house, Eliezer might be their heir. God reminded Abraham His promises in the following verses that they would have  child. In Genesis 15 verse 5, God showed him the stars and assured him that promises are set not to be broken.

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

With these words from the Lord, in verse 6 "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness, Abraham belived in God. This is a great example for us although we can't speak to God like what Abraham spoke to the Lord we have already God's Word. All we need to do is read His Word and believe.

2. BE MINDFUL THAT THAT YOUR WAY IS DIFFERENT FROM GOD'S 

   When waiting for a long time, there's tendency that you make your own way. In Abraham and Sarah's case, they made a decision that would caused them problems. In Genesis 16 verses 1 and 2, Sarah and Abraham both agreed to take Hagar instead in order for them to have a child. Then it happened and Hagar started to despise Sarah. Has this situation as ours? Do we have situation in life where we chose our ways?

Remember when I was a bit younger, I was worried because I haven't married yet and the frustrating part was the people around me, they kept on asking why I didn't marry yet. I always say, "Waiting for God's will for me." Because of that, i started to look online and tried a couple of dating apps. That decision just led me to bad habits and unchristian way of dating. Also, some guys online are just scams. I stopped from those and leave it to the Lord. 

In Abraham and Sarah's situation, they knew God's promise to them (Genesis 15:1-2). They tried to help God fulfills  His promise which is not the best for them. God's way is better than ours.

3. WAITING FOR GOD'S WILL IS WORTH THE WAIT - 

 We already know the story and Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5). Many things happened in their family and we can conclude through their life that God's will is the best. 

As this moment we may not still have the plans we have been praying for (just like me) but don’t worry God knows the best for us. We just need to be faithful and attentive to God’s voice. Pray for wisdom and knowledge in every decision we’re going to make.

 

CONCLUSION:

CONCLUSION taken from: https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-13/proverbs-13-12/

Believers never give up, as long as they have life, for a living dog is better than a dead lion (Eccl 9:4-10). Until God removes all hope, there is still hope, and even then there is hope. David prayed fervently for his sick son, and gave up praying when the child died, yet he knew he would see him again. He had hope, even after death (II Sam 12:15-23). Paul was sure he would die at Ephesus, but hoped in a resurrecting God (II Cor 1:8-10).

When a believer is discouraged, he has a simple remedy unknown to the world. He can remind himself to hope in God, just as David showed you (Ps 42:5,11; 43:5). The God of hope can give perpetual hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13). Even at the hour of his death, he can be filled with joyful and peaceful hope, for he knows about heaven and the resurrection of the dead, the blessed hope (Pr 10:28; 14:32; I Cor 15:19). The believer has hope, which the unbeliever will never have – confident waiting on God.