When deferred hope turns into a comfort zone

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Driven: Quizz Reveal

I wrote a poem about the desperation of the Shunamite woman( 2 Kings 4) who took on a journey of faith , Driven.I think the following clue did the trick: And she answered, “All is well. ” Thank you for everyone who took some time to read and engage.I had such a great laugh at the conversations we had , especially about BANNING Tam; whose hand was up first .It just fair !🤷‍♀️.But I have to do this!!Fair play!

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“hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (NIV).

Proverbs 13:12

If we look into the meaning of “deferred” the Meriam Webster dictionary describes it as follows: withheld for or until a stated time. Plainly said for me it means a person has been waiting for something or someone for a long time and they might fall into a state of depression, a comfort zone, or lose hope.

When I started with my new prayer journal: JOY, I stumbled upon hope as my first journal biblical virtue and I thought that it complimented my theme: Press on. And I found that HOPE gives us the strength to press on. This brings me to the story of the Shunammite woman. She lived a life where she had settled in contentment, tucked her desires away in the farthest corners of her heart, but still longed for God`s presence by inviting the prophet Elisha into her home.

What was striking to me about this woman when I wrote the poem about her, was her desperation! I believe that women have this something that they keep something hidden in their heart, and take to the Lord in blind faith. They refuse to accept loss or NO when they know that it is God`s will or His promise to them!

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This reminds me of the time we had to take our daughter to the university. They told us that they did not listed her for accommodation at campus and that we should make alternative arrangements.I did not know anyone in Kimberley and without telling my housemates about this we took the road, never spoken about the matter whilst on our way and when we arrived ; me and my daughter simply reported at the reception desk .We stood there as they looked for her name, found it and handed to us the key!

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But then I sense that I must write about the issue of hope in this story. When I read the story again, I realized that she did not expect something in return for Elisha`s stay, and what amazed me even further was her answer in response to Elisha’s question:” See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you?“(2 Kings 4:13)

This made me think :Why did she stop asking? Did she stop asking because she lost hope?The passage give us some insight into her life, such as:

• That she was a wealthy woman
• She was married
• She and her husband were both old
• She had no children
• She had the gift of hospitality

Her gift made room for a miracle

Let`s jump into the unraveling of this poem and how it is connected to scripture:

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Driven :Splash Poetry Unravelled

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This poem intended to focus on her journey of faith as she stepped out in desperation ,clinging on to the hope ;because she refused the loss of her son. She chose to step onto this road, without her husband and without revealing her heart to him.All she said was : “All is well.”

 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” 

2 Kings 4:23

This time it was not because of any religious obligation, but she was actually stepping out in blind faith chasing after hope.

With shoes of desperation
I took the road of faith
I never counted my steps,
Nor did I feel the aches;

Now, I’ve noticed how I started this poem with ” shoes”.And I continuously thought about her confession: “All is well “ which if translated in Hebrew , means ” Shalom“.This lead me to the ” shoes of the gospel of peace” mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 6.She stepped out in peace.The same God who provided a son to her would be able to change her situation once again .

 “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 

2 Kings 4:24

My eyes were fixed 
And my mind set
For I reject the loss?
How can I receive
And then ...?

She only gave necessary instructions when she took on the road and said was necessary.Twice she was confronted with a question and her confession did not changed.She had to focus on her journey which was linked to a specific pace.She was DRIVEN.

Peace strengthens hope

But instead of my despair I am holding my banner of hope ,

“So she set out…“(2Kings 4:25)

And my confession : It is well!

“Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” “Everything is all right,” she said.” (2 Kings 4: 26)

She journeyed all the way until Ghehazi met her at the instruction of Elisha,and asked her if everything is fine, and she replied with the same words: “All is well( Shalom)”

I chose to write about her journey and this is where I stopped.The rest of the story is an awesome unfolding of a miracle because of this woman’s faith and steadfast hope.

Some insight I gained from this story

1. When she turned to an age past childbearing , the lid of her hope was probably closed of because of all the waiting.Remember how I spoke about jars( vessels) and lids and how the lids of vessels can become stuck .
2. Her gift of hospitality started of with a simple meal and Expanded to a small room for the prophet to stay.She enlarged the capacity of her gift and therefore made room for a miraculous provision.Because of her gift so willingly offered without expecting anything in return , she touched God’s heart.
3. It seemed from the husband’s response on her request for a donkey for the journey, that he is unaware of the death of their son.He probably thought that the boy was sleeping , which could mean that she didn’t tell him.

Well , we can all agree on the great characteristics of hope in this story and her confession in respond to: How are you doing?

All is well!

What do we confess during difficult times?Do our confessions help in bringing the hand of God into our situation?

I believe that God does not allow difficulties for no reason or to punish!! No! Father loves to shape our character, to build us up in faith, to restore our hope and to work everything to its best for us.