Such a difficult time. The world says time heals all wounds. But God says: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life – Proverbs 13:12
What does that mean really? The world says to leave things alone, let time heal, as tho “it” will and do nothing, because sooner or later you will forget about all of this pain and go onto the next thing. Well what does God say? What do you say, Lord? Please reveal yourself to me about this issue.
Lets begin with the dictionary…and the meaning of the words Jesus uses in His Word:
Hope – to feel that something desired may happen, to place trust; rely, to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence
Deferred – postponed or delayed, suspended or withheld for or until a certain time or event
Longing (different version) – to have an earnest, strong, persistent desire or craving, especially for something unattainable or distant.
Fulfill – to carry out, or bring to realization as a prophecy or promise. To perform or do, a duty; obey or follow as commands. To satisfy requirements, obligations. To bring to an end; finish or complete, as a period of time.
What about what it says about these words in the concordance…
Hope from expectation 03176 – to wait by implication, to be patient, hope:–(cause to, have make to) hope, be pained, stay, tarry, trust, await
Deferred from 04900 a primitive root; to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall etc.) draw (along, out) continue, defer, extend, forbear, give, handle make (pro -sound) long, sow, scatter, stretch out.
Heart from 03823 – inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding, thinking, reflection, memory, inclination, resolution, determination of will, conscience, as seat of appetites, as seat of emotions and passions, as seat of courage.
Sick from 02490 properly, to bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break ones word, to begin as if by an opening wedge
Sick from 02342 properly, to twist or whirl to dance, to writhe in pain or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert:–bear, bring forth, drive away, fall grievously with pain, fear, form, grieve, pained, shake sorrowful, stay, tarry, travail with pain, tremble, trust…
Sick from 02470 properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence to be weak, sick, afflicted; or to grieve, make sick, also to stroke in flattering, entreat:–beseech be diseased, grief, make prayer, be wounded
Desire from 0183 a longing; by implication, a delight, satisfaction, wish longings of one’s heart, lust appetite, thing desire, object of desire
Cometh from 0935 to go or come abide, apply, attain, be, befall, bring forth, call, carry…
Tree from 06095 a tree from it’s firmness; hence, wood, carpenter, gallows, helve, plant, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. from 06095 properly, to fasten or make firm, ie to close the eyes:–shut
Life from 02421 alive; hence, raw flesh; fresh, living thing, whether literally or figuratively, congregation, maintenance, old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop, to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
So…after that little study… If you put off, delay, draw out, extend, wait (defer) your patience to await an expectation (hope) you will make the inner man, the memory, the reflection, the seat of courage and conscience (heart) weaken and worn, afflicted and grieved (sick) BUT!!!! when the satisfaction and delight and longings of one’s heart (desire) is brought forth, come upon, attained brought near, brought to pass (cometh) it IS a firm, stock, plank, staff (tree) of sustenance, living, strong, living thing (life).
Well, my thoughts on this are that We must turn His desires into our desires! So that we must not draw out “our fleshly” expectations for something that may very well NOT be what is best for us because if we do then we will most assuredly become gravely sickened in our inner man!
So quickly pray to see through God’s eyes Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Isaiah 5:21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Proverb 20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.
Pray that His desires are our desires and speak these scriptures! Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Psalm 37..Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Psalm 20:4 May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! Psalm 21:2 You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks it will be opened. Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Psalm 145:19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; he also hears their cry and saves them. Wow!!!! So many…
I do pray that you turn my heart and eyes from looking at worthless things Lord and cause me to choose Your desires for my flesh and for my bones. I believe that You hear me and because I believe that You hear me I KNOW that I will have what I am asking, especially because I know it is your perfect will that I have a heart that beats hard after You!
Back to my original purpose tonight… I love these testimonies that my dear husband wrote to our daughter after she left. Sometimes I like to write them in first person, but in this instance, I will write it just the way that he did, to her…
Your spirit sees the emptiness of the things of this world, seeks God instead, and His riches of love, peace and joy. When you see that emptiness, and the friends that are not faithful, and are not truthful, you seek God on your face, knowing He alone is true and never fails. Our house is always open to you, and you know our house is a house of prayer and forgiveness and truth, and you know that I love you.
Originally written on June 6, 2018
imamomandanani2 