Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Proverbs 23:17-18


/my photography/

Are you hoping for something? Are you trusting God, or praying that you would, for something in your life? I am. I hope for things. My strongest desire, the thing with which I have the hardest time trusting God, is to get married. Why is it so hard? Because I see some of my friends getting close to guys and striking up relationships with them at 16... and I know that I wouldn't have to wait too long if I wanted to follow in their footsteps.

I was doing my devos last night and I read my "daily Proverb". Proverbs 23:17-18 brought tears to my eyes...


17Let not your heart envy sinners,
but continue in the fear of the LORD all
the day.
18Surely there is a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.



I realized that I'd been jealous of my friends and the general world... the world that I was striving so hard not to be part of. This verse didn't just tell me where I was wrong, but also what to do to fix it. I have to continue to trust God all day: from the moment I wake up to the moment I fall asleep. I love verse 18 too. Just because it feels bleak now... or a long way off... there IS a future, and my hope will not be cut off. It doesn't mean that I'll definitely-no-doubt-about-it walk down the aisle on my daddy's arm someday... it doesn't mean I'll be chasing my little ones around the playground ten years from now... It just means that my hope and my desire will not be just dashed to pieces. God will bless me because I am His daughter. So why should I be worried? I just have to give up the deepest desires of my heart to Him... learn to want only Him, and I will be satisfied.

5 comments:

Nathaniel M said...

Hey, great post. That's something I also yearn for. Thanks for posting that... that verse is very poignant.

Lydia said...

thanks :)

Nathaniel M said...

yw

Pratheek said...

The best way to deal with temptation is to yield to it...lol.

On a serious note, technically you can do anything as long as it's not illegal. But life can easily get screwed up unless you have some self control. That is probably the reason most religions have strict restrictions. But I think this too represents an extreme, I sure don't want to live all my life like an automation suppressing all my natural feelings and desires.

It's ultimately about pleasure versus spiritual happiness. I personally feel the key is to find the right balance. Of course, this is easier said than done.

Anyway, since you believe in literal interpretation of bible, I guess my advice is useless. But I suggest you not to judge your other friends as "sinners".

Lydia said...

You are right, Pratheek. I didn't mean to judge my friends as "sinners." That wasn't the point of my post. Thank you for pointing that out.

I'm not suppressing my natural feelings.. I'm just controlling them for the proper time. This would not really have any influence on you, since you don't believe what I do, but it makes perfect sense when you are a Christian. :)