“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” said Solomon.
This went through my mind when I heard a fable told on the radio, which had something to say to me and which I am happy to pass on.
It was about a widow, whose only daughter had been taken by a mermaid. The sad mother did everything she could to get her child back.
She sat on the beach, grieving. The mermaid took pity on her and asked if she could help her. Yes, she would very much like to see her daughter again.
That was possible. On the mermaid’s tail she traveled to the underwater palace, where she saw her child playing.
But then, the longing for her child became so strong that she wanted it back. That was impossible. She was however allowed to stay to watch her daughter.
The mother continued to grieve and asked if there was no possibility of getting her child back. “I will give you whatever you ask of me,” said the mother. The first assignment was to weave a cloak from her head hair for the mermaid. But she had only finished a little bit and now the hair was already gone.
Sadly the mother sat down again.
The mermaid asked, “Why are you so sad?” “Well, I’ve only got a little bit off the robe, and the hair is gone. Now I can’t go on.” “Then I’ll give you ointment to make your hair grow faster,” said the mermaid.
“It takes so long,” replied the mother. “You promised me that you would give me everything,” said the mermaid. “Now you also have to give me your patience”.
It was a fairytale – I think by Anton Coolen – but it gave me a lot to think about.
I’ve wondered about my patience. Am I really patient?
I must say with shame: unfortunately not. Too often I am impatient.
And have I not promised the Lord that I would give Him everything?
As the song says:
I rest in God and have my destiny
my life and my aspirations,
my joy and sorrow,
my whole heart
given into his hand.
Singing a song like that is easy.
But if you think about it and you have to put it into practice, it will be different.
Then it often goes with me like Asaph in Psalm 73:16: “I was anxious to understand this …”
▪︎ How many there are with me, who have tried to understand the meaning, the purpose of their illness.
▪︎ How many times is the “why?” is already spoken by those who are struggling?
We often do not get an answer on those fearful questions.
And then we become bitter, stimulated by our deepest feelings. It was the same with Asaph.
Until he entered into God’s sanctuary, that is, began to look at things from God’s side. Then in the night of his troubles and troubles a jubilant song came from his heart:
“Yet I will be steadfast with thee, thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
Who have I (besides you) in heaven? I covet nothing on earth besides you; though my flesh and my heart should fail, my heart is rock, and my inheritance is God forever ”.
If we didn’t have the backing of God’s Word!
Then I pray, Lord, forgive my impatience, and let me trust in You with a perfect heart.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website 1: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Website 2: http://bijbelplaatjes.nl
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