“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
When I ran a youth ministry I use to hire summer staff. I had dozens of wonderful college students work for me over the years. In our ministry we patiently built relationships that sometimes took years before we saw any results from the time invested. Some of my very best staff were D-1 athletes from Auburn University (War Eagle). What I discovered about most athletes at this lever was that they were very self disciplined, worked for excellence and loved life. One of their most valuable attributes for ministry was that they understood deferred gratification. They knew that you put in the work and effort now for the best results down the road. Sometimes way down the road. There are a number of folks who had the potential to be D-1 athletes but they just did not see the payoff early enough so they quit. In life it can be very difficult to continue to hold out hope. It can be so difficult that it can take on the similarities of a physical ailment. In faith too many had hope of the resurrected savior rescuing them from a difficult situation – marriage, job, challenge raising kids, health – but then quit. They give up waiting and lose the victory God has in store. Nothing is better than seeing God’s plan ultimately come about. For thousands of years the Israelite people waited in hope for a savior. Then on the first Christmas He came. Now we await His promised return. Today hold on. #BeTheEdge
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV