When Dreams Die

How do we handle it when our dreams die, especially the ones we thought to be God-given?

This question has on occasion touched me deeply, because I have grieved over the death of several dreams.  With this said, let me give you 12 examples of people in Scripture who experienced the death of their dreams.

1.  Joseph received two God-given dreams, then was cast into a pit, sold into slavery, served in Potiphar's house and ended up in prison (Genesis 37-50).

2.  Moses was commissioned by "I AM THAT I AM" to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.  Later, he and his brother, Aaron, were rejected by the Israelites as situations went from bad to worse (Exodus 5).

3.  Moses sent out 12 men to spy out the Promised Land.  Only two came back with a positive report and the people wanted to stone them and cast Moses aside (Numbers 13-14).

4.  Samson, the prophet-playboy of Israel, was raised up to judge the people, but allowed his uncontrolled passions to alter his assignment (Judges 16).

5.  Saul, Israel's first king, began his reign with great promise and ended up falling on his own sword while fighting the Philistines (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

6.  David, Israel's king-to-be, found himself physically, spiritually and mentally exhausted after running from King Saul, only to learn that the Amalekites had taken captive his wife and children (1 Samuel 30:1-4).

7.  King David's heart was crushed after learning his best friend, Jonathan, had been killed in battle (2 Samuel 1).

8.  God put it in the heart of David to bring the ark of God to its resting place in Jerusalem.  David's plan was foiled when Uzzah, the priest, was struck dead after trying to steady the ox cart, which carried the ark (2 Samuel 6).

9.  David made plans to build the temple, but was refused by God because he had been a man of war and the cause of much bloodshed in Israel (1 Chronicles 22:8).

10.  David's one-night-stand with Bathsheba, their unplanned pregnancy, Uriah's murder, and their baby's subsequent death caused the monarch much grief throughout the remaining years of his life (2 Samuel 12).

11.  Israel's exiles listened to the promises of false prophets regarding their future (Jeremiah 29).

12.  Stephen, the newly selected deacon, a man full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and one whose life exhibited great potential in the infant Church, was stoned (Acts 6).

All of us have experienced the death of a dream.  During these times, we either get bitter or better.  Sometimes we never fully understand the "why's" of God, but the above examples of dreams that died perhaps give us insights that may help us deal with our own losses.

1.  Joseph's dreams died temporarily, only to be resurrected thirteen years after he was thrown into the pit.  Remember, timing is everything when it comes to God's plan for our lives.

2.  It looked like Moses' dream to lead the children of Israel died, but really God was testing his obedience and trust in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

3.  Regarding the twelve spies, sometimes our dreams die at the hands of those around us.  When the inequities of life steal our dreams, we have to lay them at the feet of an all-loving, all-knowing God, who eventually evens the score.

4.  Ask Samson.  Some dreams die because we allow sin and the lust of our flesh to override God's plan.

5.  King Saul saw his dream die because he allowed jealousy, rage and bitterness to control his life.  Sin is a dream-killer.

6.  When David discovered his wife and kids had been taken captive by the Amalekites, he "cried until he could cry no more."  Sometimes God allows our dream to die so that we "come to the end of ourselves" and trust Him completely.

7.  David learned that precious Jonathan had died.  His soul was crushed.  We make one of two choices when life dashes our dreams and breaks our heart:  (1) to either fall upon the Rock (Jesus) and find comfort, or (2) to blame God, become bitter and allow circumstances to crush us.

8.  Some dreams die when God tests our motivations behind our actions.  We have to live our lives in keeping with God's revealed will.

9.  David wanted to build the Temple in Jerusalem.  Sometimes our dreams die because they are not OUR dreams!  God has assigned what we thought was our dream to someone else!

10. David and Bathsheba lost their baby.  God did not punish the baby, but sin brings terrible consequences to our choices.

11. Israel rejected the prophetic voice of Jeremiah and chose to listen to false prophets.  Sometimes our dreams die when we listen to the wrong voices.

12. Stephen's future ministry looked promising, but he was martyred.  Sometimes our dreams die because God has a much larger purpose in mind for us.  Stephen's death caused the early disciples of Jesus to spread out all over the Roman Empire, thus taking the Gospel to people and lands that Stephen would never see.

Have you experienced the death of a dream?  Let me encourage you to do what David did when he and Bathsheba lost their baby; and later when his wife and children were captured by the Amalekites.  He got down on the ground and worshiped God!  WORSHIP GOD -- the highest form of faith when things go from bad to worse.

Dream the Impossible Dream!

Calling all dreamers!

An obscure verse found in Genesis 37:5 says, “And Joseph had a dream.”  This full color, ambiguous, two-part dream launched him toward his life’s work.  His dream provides a backdrop for dreamers today.  It has the makings of a made-for-television movie!  Before I continue, however, let me define the word “dream,” as seen in Joseph’s life.  A “dream” is an assignment from the Throne of God.  It may or may not occur in your sleep!

Dreamers “see” before they see!  Disneyland Park is the first of two Walt Disney theme parks built in the United States.  Located in Anaheim, California, Disneyland Park opened July 17, 1955 and is the only theme park directly built under the supervision of Walt Disney. 

Today, millions travel annually to his second American theme park located just outside of Orlando, Florida. Walt Disney passed away in 1968, before his second park was constructed. Mrs. Walt Disney was present at the grand opening of the Florida Park.  Someone said to her, “I sure wish Walt had been able to see this day.”  Walt’s widow replied, “He did!”

Dreamers are visionaries.  They first see in their mind’s eye and subsequently, with their physical eyes.  The world needs more dreamers!  Every company, business, restaurant, supermarket, bank, theme park, church, or whatever is the result of someone’s dream. 

“Joseph dreamed a dream.”  His was a two-part dream that launched him on a thirteen-year all expense paid trip to the pit, to Potiphar’s house, to prison and finally to the palace.  He suffered betrayal, false accusations, lonely days, family dysfunction and more – plenty of reasons to abort his dream.  However, he continued to push forward.  He refused to be victimized by life’s drama.

Don’t think for a minute that dreaming is easy.  All God-given dreams come with a price.  Time will tell if a given dream was initiated by God or by bad pizza the night before!  Dreamers must expect setbacks, critics, misunderstandings, financial challenges, inconveniences, and a host of other difficulties.  Having dreams is commendable, but I think we need to quit glorifying them at the expense of denying reality.  The fulfillment of any dream exacts a toll – physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, etc., but the end results make it worthwhile!  We enjoy Disneyland because Walt and countless others paid the ultimate price to bring it into existence.

The difference between dreaming and daydreaming is that one pushes through and the other never gets off the ground.  Most dreams are shelved at the first hint of struggle and inconvenience.  After all, who relishes pain that more often than not accompanies progress?  Not me!  God-given dreams begin by showing us the end result, not what we may have to endure to see them come to pass.  In the meantime, faith often is taken to inexplicable depths.  Ask Joseph.

When God gives us a dream or a prophetic word, He does not give us a play by play. In Joseph’s case He showed him (generally speaking) his future capacity as a ruler over his brothers; but I don’t think Joseph ever understood the full extent of his dream until he actually arrived at the palace of Pharaoh as Prime Minister. 

First, he was required to endure the pit, Potiphar and prison.  And because of his internal drive, literally thousands of people escaped death by famine.  His food distribution program made his thirteen-year trek to the palace worth all the pain, sacrifices and struggles.

Dreamers cannot be cowards.  They dare not faint in the day of adversity.  They have to possess the tenacity of a bulldog – holding on to their dream with a grip that cannot be pried off.

What dream has God given you?  Pursue it with passion. Remember, you may have a burden to do something, but dreamers need not only to possess a burden.  They need unstoppable passion!

Almost 45 years ago God gave me a dream to plant a church in my hometown.  I’m not a martyr, but in retrospect, nothing has come easy.  Hope Community Church, located at 573 Goodale Road, south of the village of Jefferson, Ohio, stands as a fulfillment of my dream.  People who are far from God are finding new life in Christ.

Every time someone comes to faith in Christ, I am reminded that although the dream came with sacrifice, it has been worth it all to know that this God-given dream is fulfilling its purpose.  And the best is yet to come!

The dream inside you will be time tested.  Hold on!  Time and the faithfulness of God, along with your ability to “hold firm” will keep you on track during the difficult days.  Your dream will surely come to pass according to God’s timetable.  Along the way, He will fine-tune it, using circumstances to make you more like Jesus, so that in the end, your dream will stand as a testimony of His grace and provision. 

Joseph received his two-part dream at age 17 and walked through the palace doors at age 30.  That thirteen-year interlude at times took him to his breaking point, but in the end his famine relief program saved entire nations from perishing.  Remember, dreams are not given to build monuments to our greatness, but as a means to expand God’s plan and purpose on the earth.