When Hope Feels Delayed

In Proverbs 13:12, the Scripture says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick". This proverb implies that without hope, or when hope is delayed, or when a desire is not met, it can cause emotional, psychological and physical symptoms like deep sadness, despair or even a feeling of sickness. 

We see the sadness and despair among those Iraqi refugees who escaped Isis in 2014 and now have been waiting 11 years for the possibility to immigrate. Their case is still waiting. It’s the same with the Syrian refugees who escaped war in Syria in 2012. And the same with the Sudanese refugees. During their waiting period, they are stuck in a system where they can’t be normal citizens. They are very limited in how they can live their lives. They cannot work legally, they cannot open bank accounts and they cannot have a credit card. Their children cannot get a formal education.

You can see this scripture in Proverbs applies to them. It’s natural to lose hope and have a sick heart in this situation. The ones who are Christian say their only hope is in Jesus and that it was worth walking away from their home and country because losing their faith was not an option. They all know this deeply. Sadly, many of them have been separated from other family members and don’t have their extended family with them anymore because they are scattered over different countries. Their faith in Jesus is what is keeping them going. The little help we can give them lightens their load but in the end, it is the deep seated faith that sustains them. 

This is a great lesson for us to know. In the midst of hopelessness or suffering, our faith in Jesus can provide comfort and a sense of purpose when all else fails. Even when we don’t have our family, friends or support groups for encouragement and understanding, we know Jesus is there.

- Joanne Liang, Director of Restoring Refugees, July 2025

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