Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Day 36 of Lent :: Hope Deferred

“But we were hoping…”
(Luke 24:21)

The two disciples walking along the Road to Emmaus were confused and disillusioned.  They had possessed great hope that Jesus was indeed the One Who was going to “redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21)  But, that was before His arrest, the trial, the flogging, and, most notably, the crucifixion.  After all, this was the “third day since all this took place.” Their hope had begun to fade.  The wisdom writer, in the Book of Proverbs, reminds us, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” (Proverbs13:12)

Reflection: In what ways are you like the two disciples walking along the Road to Emmaus?  Are there prayers you have been praying, perhaps even for years, that have yet to be answered?  Is there something you have been hoping for from God that has not come to pass?  How has this deferment affected you, your outlook on life, your view of God, and how you interact with others?  Has your heart grown sick?  The tomb reminds us that things are not always as they seem.  Jesus’ body was inside the tomb, wrapped in burial clothes, void of life.  But death was not the final word.  The tomb reminds us that regardless of how things currently look, Sunday is coming!

2 comments:

J David Chan said...

Great thoughts! My wife and I have been paying down a consolidation loan for 4+ years. I think I always thought God would "step in" sometime and wipe it out... well He hasn't, and at times during the past 4 years we have had sick hearts; but He has continually reminded us He will deliver us through it, not from it, and our hope returns. Now we're just 7 months away from being free of that, and my view of God has grown to include His faithfulness by walking with us through trials, not just His faithfulness through supernatural deliverance.

Jerrell Jobe said...

David... Congrads on the 7-months to finish line!!! That's Awesome...

I love your statement of perspective regarding "His faithfulness by walking with us through trials, not just His faithfulness through supernatural deliverance."

The truth that he is walking with us "through" it is beautiful... and as you mentioned, often over looked.