Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)

What God offers us in Jesus Christ is the very thing that people have longed for throughout human history. The longing for One who would save us from our sins. The longing for One who would give us eternal life and reconcile us to God. And as today’s proverb reminds us, it can make the heart “sick” to have to wait for this kind of desire to be fulfilled. But when it is fulfilled––the beauty, the joy, the exhilaration that results is like “a tree of life”!

This proverb is a picture of the advent season. After much waiting and anticipation, we rejoice that the hope of God has come! All our desires for peace and joy––the kind of peace and joy that outlasts and overcomes the suffering and circumstances of this world––have been fulfilled in Jesus. Christ Himself said to the crowds,

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

In Christ, God has come to save us from our sins, to satisfy our souls, and to restore us to a right relationship with Him. Our hearts are not “sick” (Proverbs 13:12). Instead, we are like trees of life. No matter what happens to us, we have life and peace and hope and security in Jesus. Our desires are fulfilled in Him. And yet, we have not yet seen the ultimate fulfillment of what Christ came to bring us.

We look forward in hope to the day when we will see Christ face to face and sing His praises. We will enjoy His peace and security and intimacy for all of eternity and experience unhindered communion with Him. Our eternal hope will no longer be deferred and our desires will finally be fulfilled.

PRAYING IN LIGHT OF TODAY’S PASSAGE

Ask God to fill you with the hope that is found in Jesus Christ so that you might rejoice in His grace and live faithfully until Christ returns.