stephen R Harrison

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. -Proverbs 13:12

“I hope so”. That’s a phrase we’ve all said before. Its evil twin is “Don’t get your hopes up.” When we’ve said those phrases, it was probably in a moment of despair, frustration, or even doubt. In the world’s eyes, hope is such a fickle word. It’s like saying you’ve got a 50/50 shot at something. Pretty soon, perspective changes to 60/40, 70/30, and eventually to “why bother”. I remember hoping my mom and dad would be healed of Parkinson’s disease. Sitting in the doctor’s office sometimes seemed futile and, at other times, hopeful. Experimental drugs were promising: Varied therapies seemed encouraging. However, their slow demise and ever-weakening bodies discouraged even the most optimistic. I remember times of sitting with them and discussing their health. Although their bodies were wasting away, they remained optimistic. They never lost hope. As a man, I wanted to fix it for them. As their son, I wanted them healed. Of course, they desired to get better, but their hope wasn’t based on the outcome of their sickness. It was grounded in Jesus. They often spoke of going to heaven, the ultimate place of healing and wholeness. My mom’s favorite song was “What a Day That Will Be” when my Jesus I shall see. I played it on the piano at her funeral. I was honored to preach at both of their funerals and speak about their hope of Jesus – the hope of heaven.

In Proverbs 13, Solomon writes, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” My parents’ hope of Jesus was fulfilled. It all began when they trusted in Christ to be their Savior. My dad and mom were teenagers when they were saved. They would live on this earth to age 78 (mom) and 89 (dad). In those 70-75 years between salvation and death (glorification for the believer), you can be sure they had many moments of despair, frustration, and doubt. I’m sure they said, “Don’t get your hopes up” a few times. What kept them going was what Solomon described in 13:14, “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.” They followed God’s instruction and were rewarded (13). Their good judgment in choosing Jesus as their hope in every situation was in their favor (15). For those 70+ years of following Jesus, they were hopeful disciples. They didn’t disregard discipleship, growing in the Lord. They did so and were honored by the Lord (18). Their longing for Jesus was fulfilled. Despite the bitterness of this world, the Hope of Jesus was “sweet to their souls” (19). A Proverbs 13 man is a hopeful disciple. His hope is not that everything in life will work out perfectly. He does not build his life around comfort and favorable circumstances. His hope is in Jesus, the One who will never disappoint. A Proverbs 13 man takes the world’s deferment of hope and finds fulfillment in it through the trustworthiness of Jesus. That’s contentment. That’s true joy. He allows the Spirit and Word to teach him how to overcome despair, frustration, and doubt by staying focused on God’s promises. He knows his reward is not on this earth, so he learns to patiently overcome and place his hope in something far better than the ups and downs of a fallen world. He is a hopeful disciple who has his longings fulfilled in Jesus alone.