"Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prv 13:12). It is so difficult sometimes to have to wait so long for God's plan to unfold. Did you ever feel that you might die before the situation improves? Yet "the Lord does not delay in keeping His promise — though some consider it 'delay' " (2 Pt 3:9). "If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late" (Hab 2:3).

How do we wait for something we need so badly, something we know for certain is God's will, and something that we just can't live another day without? We must wait patiently and confidently, not complaining. To do otherwise would be to insult God by displaying a lack of faith in His ability to deliver. We renew our strength by 'waiting' upon the Lord (Is 40:31, RSV-C).

The Hebrew word translated as 'wait' or 'hope' in Isaiah 40:31 can mean to twist together, as cords of a rope are intertwined. In our waiting, then, we wrap ourselves around the Lord and He wraps Himself around us. When discouraging forces pull at us, we are not pulled apart. Instead, like strands of a rope, we and the Lord are pulled more tightly together and grow in strength. We never "come to the end of our rope" because the Lord has roped us tightly into His presence.

"Hence do not grow despondent or abandon the struggle" (Heb 12:3). Stay focused on Jesus (Heb 12:2) and confident in Him. Don't even move an inch out of your position of hope. "Look out that you yourselves do not lose what you have worked for; you must receive your reward in full" (2 Jn 8).

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 25, 2008

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