Proverbs 10:28 Hope and expectation_

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness, but the expectation of the lawless shall vanish. Proverbs 10:28 (Emphasized Bible)

The thing I for which I wait patiently will result in gladness, joyfulness, mirth, pleasure, rejoicing. Not that joy is the object of my hope, but that my hope, whatever it is, will result in this happy state.

Compare that to the lawless. Whatever his soul has pursued, or literally “is bound to, as a cord,” will wander away.

There is something entirely obsessive about people. When there is something in our minds that we want, we become very focused, sometimes even OCD about obtaining it. The goal can gobble up our lives, consciously or unconsciously. It helps me understand the statements that Jesus makes about following him: “He that hates his life in this world, unto life age-abiding will guard it.” The pursuit that our heart embarks upon must be that which is birthed in heaven. Motivated by a desire for God. Otherwise, in the end it is often unattainable.

Yet the righteous have a different outcome. And what makes me “righteous” except for that soul-cleansing forgiveness that the Father offers that comes to me at a very high cost? And from that righteousness comes a heart that is forged or moulded within by His Spirit. The very hope and expectations that I have has been changed to reflect the nature that he has planted in me. My goals and ambitions, the things I pursue and have hope for, will happen.

Being a child of God comes with such confidence. Earlier in this chapter Solomon affirms that the blessing of Yahweh makes us rich. The desire of the righteous is granted. Jesus says to ask anything, and he will do it for us. He tells us that with God, all things are possible. What a joy, deep and abiding, when our hopes are realized!