When It Doesn’t All Work Out

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12 ESV)

“It’ll all work out.”

I’ve heard this so many times over the past couple of months. But every time I hear those words I feel stung and think . . . “But what if it doesn’t?”

My thoughts turn to my friend who, after having a baby, watched her husband suffer from cancer for three months before he went to be with God. Sometimes, it doesn’t all work out.

So what, then? Do we stand paralyzed in fear, just waiting for the next disaster?

Last year the Lord spoke to my heart about hope. Faith is vital to life, but so is hope.

But it’s hard to hope when, after months or even years of earnest prayer, circumstances haven’t changed or when we discover, as in the case of my friend, they never will. Even still . . . we must hope.

This week I noticed something for the first time in Hebrews 11, the faith chapter: And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised. (Hebrews 11:39 ESV)

The listed “heroes of the faith,” did not receive what they were longing for! It didn’t all work out for them on earth—and they are our example.

. . . God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40 ESV)

While God truly does cause everything to work for the good of those who love Him, the journey we are on is not all about us. Our lives are not our own. When it doesn’t all work out, we can rest in the knowledge that God is preparing something better . . . for us and for those who come after us.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen . . . (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

That is the key: being assured that we can still hope for good things. As the Psalmist said, I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13 NASB)

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 ESV)

Even if certain circumstances don’t all work out, something will. God will prove himself faithful. Hold on to hope. Keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep believing that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

And {Abraham} went out, not knowing where he was going. . . . For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:8, 13-16 ESV)

Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14 ESV)