Have you been holding on to the hope of something for so long that you sometimes wish your dream would die so you could be relieved of longing? If you’re like me, you’ve wrestled with a desire or two for years and there are times your heart has sometimes felt worn out from waiting.
Which brings me to some questions. . .
Does God intentionally take His children past the point of hoping for what they want most? Does He stand by and watch the hearts of those He loves melt in tears while their greatest dreams die? Does He bring them to desperate prayer and longing?
When I look at Scripture, I have to answer yes. Yes, sometimes He does. Sometimes God brings us to the end of ourselves, just like He did Joseph, Hannah, Abraham, Moses, and the Israelites.
But why would God, who is all powerful and loving, not allow us to realize our dreams–or make us wait so long for them to come to pass? I’m sure there are numerous reasons, but one I find encouraging is that this is how God produces greater faith in us, thereby granting us greater peace and joy. When we become aware of our inability to grant our own desires through our best efforts, wisdom, or intellect, we are forced to lean on Him rather than depend on self-sufficiency to see our dreams fulfilled.
When God backs us into the corner of unfulfilled dreams, it’s His chance to show there is no way our desires will come about except through Him. Then when He delivers the answer, He is glorified to the full. No flesh can boast in His presence. Our desperation is the stage God sets to perform His miracles.
If you have been waiting for God to answer a prayer or make a dream come to pass, faithfully submit yourself to Him while you wait. And, be honest. Cry out like the Psalmists. Tell Him your fears, frustration, and heartbreak (I Peter 5:7). Let Him bear your burdens (Matthew 11:28). Then, choose to continue to believe He has your best interest in mind until an answer about your dream comes–no matter how long it takes.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. ~Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV)
