Amy Boucher Pye

Tag: Proverbs

  • Weekly Devotional: Longing fulfilled (4 in Hope and Trust in God series)

    Photo: ‘Tree of Awe’ by Trevor Cameron, flickr

    Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

    A friend prayed this proverb for me when major life plans were dashed. I had thought the Lord was guiding me to move to another city to work with a Christian organization there. Conveniently, in that city lived a man whom I was sure the Lord had told me I would marry. But in the space of a week, I knew that neither would happen – neither would I work there nor marry that wonderful man.

    My friend realized that I had seriously misheard the Lord, but she didn’t pass judgment on me. Rather she ministered to me through this proverb, for she saw that what my heart hoped for – marriage and being involved in an organization I loved – was now not coming true. And if I let my deferred hope fester within, my heart could become sick with sadness and disappointment.

    She prayed with me, and helped me to release some of the pain and disbelief to God. I started to understand that I needed to mature in my listening; to test what I was hearing not only against the Bible but with trusted prayer partners.

    It’s interesting that Solomon in this proverb simply observes the effects of hope deferred and longing fulfilled. He’s not pointing fingers at causes or behaviors that may have brought about the hope deferred. Sometimes merely stating the situation can bring healing and clarity – as with my friend who saw what was happening in my heart but didn’t tear me down for the mess I’d made.

    Through my painful experience, I learned to give the Lord my dreams and plans. I became more rooted in his word and more mature in discerning his voice. And eventually my longings fulfilled became a tree of life.

    Prayer: Root us in your word, Lord, that we might drink of your nourishment and feed on your good food.

  • Devotional of the week: Are we one or the other?

    When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom… Whoever derides their neighbour has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret… A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death… A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed… Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. (Proverbs 11:2, 12–13, 18–19, 25, 29)

     

    "Tension" by erix! as found on flickr.
    “Tension” by erix! as found on flickr.

    In this chapter of Proverbs the sage gives a contrasting picture between the wicked and the wise. The former fall into pride and disgrace, while the latter find refreshment and righteousness. Those who seek evil will experience ruin, deception, betrayal, and ultimately death. Whereas the righteous will be humble, prosperous, and will find life.

    Reading these sayings of opposites can lead us to think that we are one or the other – wicked or wise. We can despair that we will always be beholden to our sin nature and we’ll never find victory over temptation or addictions. Or we can puff ourselves up, thinking with pride that we have this spiritual life sussed and conquered – we have arrived. Whereas the truth probably lies in the tension of the “already but not yet.” As Christians we’ve been redeemed by Jesus’ sacrifice but we’re not yet fully transformed. We still fall into sinful patterns of behaving. Yet as we live empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can enjoy more freedom and more grace to become increasingly like the righteous whom we see in these proverbs.

    Humility; holding one’s tongue; wisdom; keeping confidences; sowing righteousness; pursuing life; displaying generosity; bringing refreshment… all characteristics of the new self. Why not join me in asking God to help us live out these qualities this day, this month, and this year?

    Prayer: Triune God, I know that on my own I quickly fall into patterns of the old self. Come and live in and through me, that I might reveal your love, generosity and grace to those whom I meet.