Isn’t it interesting how not having something helps us appreciate it all the more? Some common sayings teach this truth. From a negative perspective, people often say, “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” We’ve probably all learned the hard way why we should appreciate someone or something while we can. From a more positive view, we often say, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” When loved ones are separated for a time, the pain of that separation makes the reunion even sweeter. The same is true spiritually.
Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” When we set our hopes on heaven, there will be days we grow homesick as we long to see God glorified and evil vanquished. This longing is a good thing, as it will help us focus. And just think how sweet it will be when our desire is fulfilled, we once again have the tree of life, and we are with the Lord!