Lean on It!
Lean on It!
(#307 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the longing [desire] is fulfilled it is a Tree of Life.” (Proverbs 13:12)
In your quest to comprehend the mind of the Messiah in you, discerning the truth of this proverb is pivotal. You must build your hope on a foundation of solid rock. If your hope is built on loose soil, when the rain comes and the water rises, your faith will be uprooted like a weed that clings to dust (Matthew 7:27).
Listen closely loved one; it is mandated that much of what you hope for (righteously desire) involves a time of supernatural testing. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings [mental tribulations and physical hardships], because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope [expectation]. And hope does not disappoint us, because the love of the Mighty One has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5) Tribulations will make you perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). Knowing this sets your hope on solid ground.
If your ultimate desire is to identify with Yahshua’s words, “Not My will but Your will be done (Luke 22:42),” then you can be certain that all of your hopes are protected by His promises and come with His appointed times for manifestation. Hope will not disappoint. He who makes good promises will also comfort you even when hope seems deferred. “I won’t be long. I won’t cause you to hope and then crush your dreams,” His voice speaks to you. “Simply make sure that your desires are found in Me and your hopes will never be uprooted.”
He won’t crush your hope; He will not disappoint you. The delay is not denial, but merely a further pruning of any unnecessary branches that remain. The Tree of Life is the truth of His Life within you. When He fulfills that which you hope for, your entire being will be like a tree planted by many waters, whose leaf does not wither, nor will it cease from yielding fruit (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8). You will be like an olive tree flourishing amidst His Holy Garden of Love. Wait for it with praise and thanksgiving. When things seem dreary, remind yourself that Abba will not push hope past His empowerment for you to believe. Lean on this truth and thrive, even while the physical world around you may crumble.
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him!” (Job 13:15)