Tag: delays

Hope Deferred

Posted on by Rob Collins in Blog, Messages

Hope Deferred

Proverbs 13:12

We have all hoped and been disappointed, even if it were for just a moment in time. Our disappointment comes from unmet expectation. It’s those times when we believed or hoped for something that didn’t happen or at least didn’t happen in the time frame we expected it to happen. The Bible gives us examples of stories like Lazarus whom Jesus raised form the dead yet his sisters were disappointed that Jesus didn’t come sooner; their hope was deferred, because their expectation was delayed. Jairus was the ruler of the synagogue that approached Jesus about going to his house to heal his daughter and on the way his hoped was deferred while a woman whose hope had been deferred many times received hope and was healed. However Jesus did go to the house of the ruler, and his daughter was healed. It just didn’t happen in the time frame that was expected, and for a moment Jairus was disappointed. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” The Message translation says it this way: “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.” I am thankful that my times of disappointments that may only last for a season can be turned around in an instant! We serve a God of the “turn around.” What took a lifetime to create can be changed in an instant. Someone reading this today needs to know your situation is about to turn around! Your heart may have been made sick with disappointment but its about to leap with joy in fulfilled hope. The Bible tells us that weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning. When the sun sets on one season it will rise on another season. Your situation is about to turn around!  

WHAT IS HOPE?

*Hope: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
*The Hebrew word simply means hope or expectation. i.e. What you hope or expect to happen.

 

WHAT DOES DEFERRED MEAN?

*Deferred: postponed or delayed, suspended until a certain time or event.
The Hebrew word suggests one who sows and has to wait. It means to be delayed and to continue on without results.

WHAT IS HOPE DEFERRED?

*Hope Deferred is repeated postponement of your expectation.

 

1. What are our Reactions when our hope is deferred?

-We get Angry. (God – self – everyone) -We become Passive-Aggressive. -We Blame everything and everyone. *(Baalam even blamed the donkey) -We want to Quit.

2. What are the Reasons we are disappointed when hope is deferred?

-We serve God Conditionally. (if you do this?) -We put are Agenda ahead of His timing. -We Idolize the wrong things. -We put our faith in what God does but not who He is.

3. What we need to do when our hope is deferred… Repent!

*repentance is simply a change of mind, heart and direction – new focus *(waiting) -Don’t give up hope on what God hasn’t given up on. -Don’t hold onto what God can give you grace to let go of. -Don’t miss what God has done by always looking at what hasn’t happened. -Don’t believe that just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it never will.

7 Things To Do to Change Your Focus When Hope is Deferred:

-Be honest. -Prioritize. -Realize God is your savior and you are His servant; not vice-versa. -Return to your first love (intimacy and passion). -Seek God’s agenda and will not your own. -Focus more on being and less on doing; don’t miss the moment or purpose. -Put God and people ahead of your own dream, vision and goals and trust Him.   Joseph had a dream and that dream wasn’t deterred by the Pit, Potiphar’s house, or the Prison. It wasn’t even deterred by the Palace. He was deserted in the pit; the pit represents those things that others do that we have no control over. Have you ever been disappointed or lost hope in others?  He was betrayed and lied about at Potiphar’s house. Have you ever lost hope or been disappointed because someone believed something about you that wasn’t true? Have you ever had someone take their word over yours? Don’t lose hope God will have the final say! He was put in the prison undeservedly. Have you ever been been disappointed because you received what you felt you didn’t truly deserve? And to make it it worse Joseph met a baker and butler that said they would remember him but they didn’t. Have you ever felt overlooked or forgotten? It’s disappointing to say the least. Joseph made it to the palace and was able to see his dream fulfilled. It probably didn’t happen in the time or the way that he expected, but it did happen. He was able to examine all the circumatnces and look at his brothers and say, “What you meant for harm God has used for good.” In every delay. Through every struggle. With all of the disappointments. God used it “all” for good! Faith is the substance of things HOPED for the evidence of things NOT seen. Don’t lose hope! Keep the faith! Although you may not see it you can still hope. That called faith. There’s a story in the Bible of persistence and faith. It’s about a judge and a persistent lady. Jesus tells the parable to His followers: “The judge had no regard for God or mankind. But this woman kept knocking and asking the judge for justice. Finally the judge says to her because you won’t give up I am going to give you what you are asking for.” Then when Jesus ends the parable He says these words: “when the Son of man appears will He find faith on the earth?” If you have read the story you might have asked the same question I did: “what’s the connection?” I think what Jesus is saying is this: “When I come back will I find faith that won’t give up?” “Will I find people who in spite of their situations and circumstances didn’t quit?” “Will I find people who although they were disappointed, they still hoped?”  Here it is again Proverbs 13:12 in the Message translation: “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.” Galatians 6:9 tells us if we don’t grow weary in well doing we will reap what have sown for; what we have believed for. Don’t quit! Like the rock-band Journey said, “Don’t Stop Believing!” Life and people can disappoint you. Believing and expecting without seeing any tangible results can make your heart sick. But proverbs 13:12 also says a “good break” can turn your life around! As I said before we serve a God of  the “turn around.” You may be down but you are not out. God is able! Your situation is about to turn around, the hope that has been deferred is about to be fulfilled!

Are Delays Divine?

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

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There are not very many people I know who like to wait, myself included. I don’t even like to pull ahead and wait on my order at McDonald’s. I remember my first flight to the Philippines. The flight itself was 24 hours, not including our delays. We were supposed to fly from Chicago to Hong Kong but we were rerouted through San-Fransisco where we ended up spending over an hour on the tarmac without disembarking while they refueled  and restocked the plane with food and necessities for are lengthy flight. Needless to say delays are sometimes inconvenient and frustrating, but nonetheless they are sometimes necessary.

I just recently visited Disney World, Epcot and Animal Kingdom where we had to stand in lines to ride the rides and enjoy the shows and entertainment. Talk about delays. Our trip home was full of delays as well. We had hurricane like weather for most of the southern route home. Many cars were pulled over, while others of us traveled at a snails pace with our flashers on. We spent the night in Columbia South Carolina only to arrive at the Virginia border where we were greeted by snow. Again the cars were traveling very slowly and the daunting delay of our arrival home was being deferred once again. And then to top it off, as we neared the West Virginia border there was a rock slide and we were delayed and detoured once again.

A couple of days ago I came in from a bike ride and Kelly had on Bishop Jakes show “the Potter’s Touch”. In the midst of the show in the middle of his sermon he made a statement that was so powerful. He said, “I’ve never seen anyone receive anything significant that couldn’t withstand delayed gratification.” Wow! The key word in this statement is “SIGNIFICANT.”  You may receive instant gratification but it doesn’t mean that you will receive something that is significant. We all like instant gratification and we all enjoy swift satisfaction. But we also know there are times when that doesn’t always happen.

 It seems it is even more difficult when it comes to delays regarding spiritual matters. Things like: when we pray and don’t feel like God is listening. Or those times when we believe God, but it doesn’t appear like anything is happening. What about those moments when it appears nothing is moving or changing. And then there are those moments when we feel we are being over looked or bypassed by someone else. The Bible is full of stories about the “divine delays” of God. For instance, the story of Lazarus comes to mind. He had died and his sisters Mary and Martha thought Jesus should have been there doing what it was He did. You see in this story Lazarus was raised from the dead it just wasn’t in the time frame that was expected. It happened… but it was delayed. In the process the desired result was the same; Lazarus was raised from the dead. It just didn’t happen in the time from of Mary and Martha’s expectation. It was delayed… but it happened. Lazarus condition changed but more importantly Mary and Martha’s disappointment and disposition changed. And it all happened through a delay!

Another story that comes to mind is the story of Jairus. He was a ruler in the synagogue. His daughter was at the point of death and he came and fell at the feet at Jesus begging Him to come to his home so his daughter would be made well. In Mark’s gospel it tells us that while they were on their way to the ruler’s home a woman touched Jesus and her touch stopped Him and the entire crowd. Meanwhile as Jesus was engaging in a conversation with the woman about what had just happened someone came from Jairus’ house to tell him not to bother Jesus any longer because his daughter who was sick was now dead. But Jesus hearing the conversation turns and says to the ruler, “don’t be troubled, only believe.” And of course we know Jesus journeyed on with Jairus. When they came to the house Jesus put everyone outside other then the few and he healed the little girl, and she raised to life.

But the question is, “what if?” What if, as Jairus was being delayed he gave up? What if he had said to the woman who touched Jesus, “I was here first… this isn’t fair!” What if he had listened to the voice that had came from his house that told him, “don’t bother.” What if the delay would have deterred his faith. Two miracles happened that day. And through a delay God still moved and He did what only He could do. He brought healing and peace. Two things that are needed when we are faced with a delay. Don’t despise a delay… it just might be divine!

7 Things to Consider When it Comes to Delays:

– a delay will help you determine whether you still want what you are waiting on.

– a delay will help prepare you.

– a delay will help protect you.

– a delay will help you prioritize.

– a delay will allow you to arrive at and or receive whatever is being desired, at the proper time.

– a delay can give you the desired result while changing you in the process.

– a delay will give you an opportunity to despise or celebrate others while in the process of waiting.