Desire Fulfilled—a Tree of Life

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

(Proverbs 13:12)

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil creates false hope and leads to sickness of heart. But God’s way is a Tree of Life. It is not the squelching of desire, as some suppose, but a fulfillment that brings healing to the brokenhearted.

Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

(Psalm 37:4)

God’s way is delight and desire. When you choose to delight yourself in Him—in His ways, in His Word, in His will — the desires of your heart will be fulfilled. This is because, in choosing Him you are choosing the Tree of Life.

Praise the LORD, O my soul …
Who satisfies your desires with good things
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(Psalm 103:1, 5 NIV)

Eating from the Tree of Life — getting into deeper personal relationship with God — will develop your passions for the things that give life. God will satisfy every one of them, so that your youth, your strength, your life will be made new.