WHO LIKES TO WAIT?

by Tammy Phillips
June 26, 2021

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12 NKJV)

I have been trying to take a friend to Nashville and go visit another for MONTHS!  It’s like Interstate 24 becomes blocked, if I plan to do either.  One sister, every time we plan a visit something happens!  Either she has a death in the family, or I do.  It is crazy.  I also have a new friend who I have promised to take around Nashville for four months.  Last time, I had to cancel because our water heater AND our dryer stopped heating on the same day. Recently, I tried to be sneaky and plan a spontaneous trip. Her third cat got sick, and she had to stay home to medicate.  I have been disappointed at every deferral, BUT I know when the visits finally happen, it will be worth the wait.

Wait…who likes to wait? 

My family believes a good dinner is instant and should be delivered on command.   My son ordered something from Amazon and was not happy when it was not here in two days.  We don’t like to wait at the grocery, restaurants, on the interstate, or to use the restroom.  We don’t like to wait.  We want what we want, when we want it and how we want it.  When we do not get what we are waiting for and our expectations are deferred, we experience disappointment.  DISAPPOINTMENT is defeat or failure of expectation, hope, desire or intention; a miscarriage of design or plan.  We do not love it when our plans change or fail.

On the other hand, hope is the expectation of good.  Hope in the focus verse is a derivative of the Hebrew word, yâchal,which means to wait, to remain, to be patient, to tarry, to stay, to trust, to expect.

When our expectations of good are deferred…
When our wait is stretched out… 
When our trust is delayed…
When our patience is drawn out…
When our hope is dragged along…
When our tarry is taking too long…
When our stand is prolonged and postponed…

Hope deferred can be…

A loved one refusing to accept Jesus, after being repeatably told about His saving grace
A prayer that goes unanswered
A child that does not receive healing
A thank you never given
A love not returned
A relationship not progressing
A resume submission going unanswered
A proposal rejected, again.
A trip to Nashville cancelled, once more

It makes the heart sick!
It weakens the inner man.
It wounds the mind.
It wearies the soul.
It wears you down.
It rubs you the wrong way.

BUT…

When the desire comes…
When one’s delight is accomplished…
When the longing of one’s heart is fulfilled…
When we see our Good God’s perfect plan for our life executed…
When our loved one at last comes to Jesus…
When we finally climb the obstacle before us after slipping and falling…
When we get the job, we have been waiting for…
When we eat right, work out and finally see results…
When I finally get to go to Nashville…

Hope fulfilled is a tree of life.
Prayers answered are reviving.
Impossibilities becoming possible are renewing.
Expectations become real, and refresh.

I enCOURAGE not to give up!  Keep hoping!  Keep waiting!  Expect good from our Great God.  I promise you it will be worth the wait. Our God does not disappoint.  The wait may disappoint and wear you down, but not our God.  He will strengthen your sick heart. One of my faves: 

“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27:14 NKJV)