Dare to Dream Again

                                            

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—big or small. And at certain stages of life, we truly believe those dreams are achievable. But as we mature and come face-to-face with the realities of the world, it can sometimes feel like those dreams may never move beyond mere imagination.

That seemed to be the situation with Joseph, the son of Jacob—a young man with remarkable dreams. He shared his dreams with his older brothers, men who probably understood “how the world works” better than he did. Instead of encouraging him, they mocked him. If mockery was all they did, it might have been easier to bear, but they went further—they hated him for daring to dream so big. Yet, their hatred and discouragement didn’t stop Joseph. In fact, he dreamed even bigger. The fact that your past dreams haven’t yet come to pass is not a reason to abandon them. And just because those closest to you don’t like or support your dreams doesn’t mean you should let them go.

Joseph went from being a dreamer to being sold as a slave—reduced to someone else’s property. What kind of dream could a slave possibly hold on to? He had every reason to be discouraged and to give up on himself—and even on the God who gave him the dream. He spent years as a slave, and then as a prisoner. But through it all, he kept his dream alive. Having a big dream doesn’t mean you’ll step into its fulfillment today. You may first go through stages and processes—God’s way of preparing you for what you’ve seen in your heart.

One crucial truth to remember is this: on the path to fulfilling a big dream, you’ll often be tested with smaller roles. Joseph was given the chance to serve as chief servant in Potiphar’s house, and he excelled to everyone’s admiration. When he was thrown into prison, he didn’t sink into discouragement. Instead of sitting bitter and silent, he chose diligence and responsibility, and the prison officials and fellow inmates respected him for it. You may have gone through a lot—or may be going through something right now—but never forget that bitterness has the power to stop you if you let it. Choose the better path, like Joseph, and keep your dream alive.

Finally, you may not see any possibility of your dreams coming true—just like Joseph couldn’t have seen a way forward from his prison cell. But take it one step at a time. Keep your eyes on God. Joseph once tried to arrange his way out by asking the king’s servant to remember him after interpreting his dream—but the man forgot him. That’s why you must not put your trust in people. Keep your focus on God. In His own time, He will step in, lift you up, and bring you into the reality of your dreams—if you stay committed and diligent through the process. He will create the right opportunity at the right time, and when it comes, you’ll be mentally, physically, and spiritually ready to handle the glory that comes with fulfilled dreams.

Shalom!