Spiritual Heart Health

Proverbs 13:12 says,

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

In this fallen world, we’ve all experienced heartache, disappointment, and sorrowful delays. We may imagine that getting everything we hoped for in our timing is the answer to having a heart that is no longer hurting. But the only prescription for a spiritually healthy heart is to keep our hope in something that never breaks it, is always on time, and never disappoints. It’s to make God Himself our heart’s desire through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s take Proverbs 13:12 to the ultimate and eternal where our hearts and minds should be anyway. Hope deferred or delayed can make the heart sick, for sure. But we must know that our Savior is not delaying; He is right on schedule. Hebrews 10:37 says,

“For,

‘Yet a little while,

and the coming one will come and will not delay…’”

Our hearts are healthy when we seek to serve and love most the One who saved us and fills us with hope. God is able to perform all that He promises, and as believers, we have so much to be thankful for now and in times to come.

When the desire comes, it is a tree of life and Revelation 22:14 says,

"Blessed are those who wash their robes,

so that they may have the right to the tree of life

and that they may enter the city by the gates.”

Let’s aim to live with a healthy heart by keeping the Lord as our heart’s desire. He is rightfully described in 1 Timothy 1:1 as our hope. Our Desired Hope is coming. He will not delay, and He will not disappoint.