Delayed Dreams

God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:20

Are you wrestling with disappointment, a broken dream, or a setback in life? Think of Joseph. His brothers called him a “dreamer” (Genesis 37:19), but all his dreams died—or seemed to—in an act of brotherly betrayal that led to Egyptian imprisonment.

God’s heroes have always been dreamers, men and women who sensed what God wanted them to do and who were willing to trust Him to perform it. But sometimes those dreams have died. Perhaps yours have too.

We must remember that when God seems to say no, there is still a lot left, a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to do for Him. We should learn to say, “I don’t understand why my dream hasn’t come true, but thank God for all He’s done for me anyway.”

And we must go on dreaming and persevering. When Joseph’s dreams seemed to have died, he remained faithful anyway. He decided to bloom where he was planted, even if it was in a filthy jail, falsely accused as a rapist. Later, in God’s own mysterious way, He took Joseph from the prison to the palace, and all Joseph’s God-given dreams were fulfilled.

If your dream has been set aside by God, don’t quit. Seek out what God has for you in the days ahead. Trust Him, and keep dreaming.