{"id":18016,"date":"2014-07-08T15:43:59","date_gmt":"2014-07-08T15:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/?p=18016"},"modified":"2024-09-23T19:19:13","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T19:19:13","slug":"stuck-in-the-heartache-of-deferred-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/believe\/stuck-in-the-heartache-of-deferred-hope","title":{"rendered":"Stuck in the Heartache of Deferred Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"
by Steven Gledhill<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>for FREEdom from MEdom Project<\/span><\/h5>\n

“Expectation is the root of all heartache.”\u00a0<\/span>—<\/span><\/em>Public Domain<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, we have all been disappointed a whole bunch in our lives. Something didn’t work out. It didn’t come on time. Someone let us\u00a0down. They weren’t there for us\u00a0like we’d\u00a0hoped they would be. It didn’t go the way we\u00a0hoped it would. A promise was broken. It feels like we’re always waiting for something good to come our way. Rejected again. It’s as if time and hope has betrayed us.<\/p>\n

\"..hopeWhat really does it mean to have hope, or to hope for something? What is it to feel hopeful, or hopeless, for that matter? What can be more dreadful than the feeling of hopelessness… that the thing hoped for is forever out of reach, beyond your grasp, despite the exhaustive effort doing all that you could?<\/p>\n

Before going any further, perhaps we can define hope. According to Dictionary.com, hope<\/span> is defined as follows:<\/p>\n

Noun:\u00a0The<\/span> feeling<\/span> that<\/span> what<\/span> is<\/span> wanted<\/span> can<\/span> be<\/span> had<\/span> or<\/span> that<\/span> events<\/span> will<\/span> turn<\/span> out\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span> the<\/span> best…\u00a0a<\/span> particular<\/span> instance<\/span> of<\/span> this<\/span> feeling…\u00a0grounds for<\/span> this<\/span> feeling<\/span> in<\/span> a<\/span> particular<\/span> instance…\u00a0a<\/span> person<\/span> or<\/span> thing<\/span> in<\/span> which<\/span> expectations<\/span> are<\/span> centered…\u00a0something that<\/span> is<\/span> hoped<\/span> for;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Verb: To<\/span> look<\/span> forward<\/span> to<\/span> with<\/span> desire<\/span> and<\/span> reasonable<\/span> confidence…\u00a0to<\/span> believe,<\/span> desire,<\/span> or<\/span> trust…\u00a0to<\/span> feel<\/span> that<\/span> something<\/span> desired<\/span> may<\/span> happen…\u00a0to<\/span> place<\/span> trust (in);<\/span> rely (on).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So, the conclusion to be drawn from the explanations of what hope is, is that to put hope into a thing, event, or person, is to make an investment into it. To invest into something is to expect a return on it. Investment typically associates with it expectation. Once we invest emotion into the thing, event, or person that we are placing are hope in—our trust; our confidence; our belief—we are vulnerable to disappointment due to unmet (failed) expectations. This is the reality of the human experience from the outset.<\/p>\n

Hope deferred is at the center of all disappointment, pain and suffering. It is the enemy of a contented, satisfied life. Hope deferred is the empty void that is the polar opposite of fulfillment. Hope deferred\u00a0promotes\u00a0heartache and stress. And the heartache of hope\u00a0deferred\u00a0comes in so many forms, shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n

A cheerful heart is good medicine,<\/span>
\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>but a broken spirit saps a person\u2019s strength. Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"67-mustange-junk-yard-2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us…
\nThis hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. Hebrews 6:18-19 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Scrat is the squirrel in the Ice Age movie series that seems to epitomize deferred hope. He wants that nut so very badly. He works so hard to attain the prize; unimaginable effort is required to overcome so many arduous obstacles. He is relentless in his pursuit to lay hold of the thing he covets. What is it going to take? One becomes heartsick for the little guy.<\/p>\n