One of the biggest issues with childhood is when we stop believing. When a child stops believing in their family, their church, their politicians, their abilities to learn, live and grow they are in danger. Danger of what? Of falling victim to the oppression of this world. Fear and panic begin to replace faith and hope. Rebellion and pain begin to replace obedience and safety. I'm talking to more than one person that this process happened to you as a child. Things went wrong, people around you failed, life got painful and you lost your ability to have child like wonder and belief. When this happens we absolutely get totally lost, and unless these things are restored we will not find our way in this world again. Just look at the things Jesus taught us, and realize that when our child-like faith, hope, belief and wonder are restored, then our life is restored!
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.
Why are we so full of negativity when all things are possible to him that believes? Why have we lost hope of a brighter day and a better tomorrow when all we have to do is believe? Why is it so hard to believe that things can and will get better? It is because we have experienced the pain of disappointment so many times that we cannot stand the thought of experiencing it again!
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
deferred? Deferred hope doesn't necessarily mean it was stopped, but that there was a delay. To defer means to delay! When we make a plan, and things get in a knot and it takes longer than we expected it makes the heart sick. When we make a plan and unforseen expenses or opposition arise it makes the heart sick. I have lived a life of hope, dreams and plans and there are times when those become a reality, but I have yet to experience when any of my hopes come to reality without some kind of opposition, deterrent, or unexpected challenge coming my way. Yes, this is SICKENING. So what do you do? You push past that and keep going anyway. I have had many times that I have kept on in the midst of my heart being crushed, broken, sick, and discouraged. One thing I have learned though is that a broken, sick or discouraged heart cannot stop you if you keep moving forward in spite of it all! And you have to keep you eyes on the second half of the verse above! BUT WHEN DESIRE COMES, IT IS THE TREE OF LIFE! I cannot tell you how many times I have pushed past opposition, pain and obstacles to see a dream fulfilled! Many times! And I can tell you this, the greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory when you obtain it. The more you are hurt and wounded the greater that God rewards you when you stay on the path and obtain a more excellent promise.
Everyone faces opposition, hardships and hope that gets deferred, but only those who are victors press on in spite of those challenges. They will taste the sweet taste of victory as they obtain all that God has promised, and Oh, how sweet it is!
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