Hope Deferred
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
“Nothing is more grievous than the disappointment of a raised expectation,” wrote Matthew Henry about this verse. He added, “Nothing is more grateful than to enjoy that, at last, which we have long wished and waited for.”
Solomon understood the pain of dashed hopes, but he encourages us to look beyond the temporary setbacks to recognize the true joy that can come through patience, diligent effort and trust in the One who wants all the best for us. At His “right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Why does God allow the trials of this life? Learn more in our article “Why Does God Allow Suffering?” And learn more about the hope God offers in our booklet Finding Hope in a Hopeless World.
