Hope Deferred by Maureen Miller

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

“…Void a miracle.”

What had the doctor said? I shook my head, attempting to wrap my mind around his words. “Pardon?”

“It’s unlikely you’ll have children biologically, void a miracle.” His furrowed brow spoke his concern.

My husband Bill leaned in, then pulled me close. Always my resolute protector, even when his heart, too, was hurting.

My hope for children seemed nothing more than smoldering embers, and, for a season, all passion waned. I lived in grays.

But…

God didn’t leave me in the ash heap. Rather, He began to speak His precious promises to my heart, breathing life back into flame.

Who am I?

“You are God.”

Be more specific.

“You’re my Shepherd.”

And?

“You’re the Giver of good gifts.”

Yes, and?

“You work miracles.”

And what’s necessary before the miracle?

This one stumped me, but God was, as He always is, patient. Finally, “Something needing a miracle.”

Yes—a situation when the only answer is Divine intervention.

Indeed. As a friend recently said—Every miracle begins with a problem.

Though my body was the product of a sin-sick world, unable to conceive a child, God has worked with this damaged, imperfect vessel—producing purpose from pain, bringing beauty from brokenness.

As I pressed in to the heart of my Shepherd, the Giver of good gifts, hope stirred. He promised me good rather than evil, a future and a hope, the fulfillment of dreams as I delighted in Him, and fruitfulness, like a flourishing tree planted by rivers of water.

Guess what! Over time, His Word—that which never returns void—strengthened me for a journey through barren lands. His Word equipped me to fight against the enemy of my soul who sought to rob, kill, and destroy my hope and joy. His Word filled me to overflowing, producing an abundant harvest of love, peace, and patience.

And eventually, true to His Word, God fulfilled the promise He’d spoken to my heart not long after that physician’s prognosis snatched my breath. Though my dream—my hope to be a momma—was deferred for more than half a dozen years, when we adopted our first child, I flourished as a mother. And after all these years, two more born-in-my-heart children and three grand-girls later, I’m still flourishing. Not because of any abilities or qualities of my own, but because of the relationship I’m invited to enjoy—to delight in the Lord…

Yes, to experience the joy of dreams fulfilled!

Maureen Miller

 

Maureen Miller is an award-winning author with stories in more than twenty collaboratives. She contributes to Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures, her local newspaper, and several online devotion sites. Married to her childhood sweetheart Bill, she enjoys life with her family, including her three born-in-her-heart children and three grand-girls, not to mention several furry beasts. They live on Selah Farm, a hobby homestead nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. She blogs at www.penningpansies.com, telling of the extraordinary character of God discovered in the ordinary things of life, and her first novel, Gideon’s Book, will be released in early 2025.

 

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