Dare to Keep Your Dream Alive

                                           

 

Gen. 37:9 Then Joseph had another dream, and he told his brothers about it. He said, “I had another dream. I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me.” (ERV)

Everyone grows up with a dream, it could be a big dream or a small dream, depending on a number of factors. The beautiful thing is that at a certain point, we tend to be believe that our dreams are achievable. But it so happens that as you grow up and interact with the world system, you begin to see that your dreams may just stay at the level of dreams after all, and not necessarily be achieved.

Well, it seem like that was the exact story of Joseph the son of Jacob in the bible. He was a young man with great dreams. He told his dream to his brothers who were older than him, and probably understood better how the world works, but rather than encouraging Joseph, they mocked him. If they had only mocked him, then it may have felt even better for him, but they did not just stop at mocking him, they  hated him for daring to have such big dreams. The hatred and discouragement did not stop Joseph, rather he was propelled to dream even bigger and better than his previous dream. This is the first important lesson for you - The fact that you had a dream in the past that hasn’t yet come to pass or that failed, is not a reason not to dream another, and the fact that you have a big dream like Joseph, and the people around you, especially those close to you and whom you respect didn’t seem to like your dream or be supportive of it, is not a reason to abandon that dream.

Joseph then went from a big dreamer to becoming a slave in a foreign land – think of it, he was simply someone else’s property! What kind of dream could a slave possibly have? He had every reason at this point to be discouraged, and to give up on himself, and on God who gave him the dream. He spent a number of years as a slave, and then in prison as a slave-prisoner, but he kept his dream alive. This is the second important lesson - That you had a big dream yesterday does not mean that you will automatically step into the fulfilment of that dream today, you still have to go through various stages, and processes, by which God prepares you for the actualization of your dream.

One crucial thing to bear in mind is that on the path to realizing your big dream, you will have the opportunity to prove your worth in small things. Many people usually fail this step, they consider that they are made for big things, and anything that appears small is beneath them. but consider that the road to the top begins at the bottom. Never be to big to start from a small place.

Joseph had the opportunity to serve as servant, then as chief servant over Potiphar’s house, and he did well to the admiration of boss. When he got into prison, rather than being moody all day out of discouragement, he chose rather to be diligent to the admiration of the prison officials, and other fellow prisoners. This is the third important lesson - You may have gone through so much or be going through so much now as you read, but understand that ultimately you alone have the power to stop yourself if you choose to focus on your bitter experiences and past failures. Take the right path instead, stay positive, and be encouraged like Joseph to keep your dreams alive.

Finally, you may not even yet see the possibility of how your dreams will ever come to pass just like Joseph when he first landed in prison, but just keep it going a step at a time. Don’t stop looking to God at any point - this is another crucial lesson. 

Joseph got into the trap of trying to lobby the King’s servant to remember him after he interpreted the dream in his favour, but the man still forgot Joseph. It is important not to try to look to a man, but to keep your focus on God. God Himself will work it out, He will step in to lift you up and bring you into the fullness of your dreams as you remain committed and diligent in going through the process. He will create the opportunities for you to manifest in the fullness of time, and at that time you will be mentally, physically, and spiritually matured to manage the glory that the fulfilment of your dreams will bring.

Shalom!