Sometimes, you just gotta have patience…
...like a saint!
Can you imagine what Joseph must’ve been thinking when he was falsely accused and put in prison? I think I would seriously start to doubt my dreams, especially after everything else that had already happened!
We don’t know exactly how long it was from the time Joseph had his dreams and the time he was brought before Pharaoh but we know it was at least two years…
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream.
Genesis 40:13 – 41:1 (NIV)
And given the circumstances he found himself in throughout that time, I’m sure it gave him plenty of opportunities to convince himself that his dreams would never happen, that God had forgotten him and that he was alone.
But God has a perfect time for everything…including the fulfilment of the dreams and desires he has placed in your heart. Sometimes we look at our circumstances and struggle to understand how our dreams can ever come about. We see ourselves at point a, and wonder how on earth are we ever going to get to the place of our dreams, at point b.
But remember that God works in the journeys and processes of our life. Sometimes the journey is part of the fulfilment of the dream!
Keep your focus on God…not the dream
Throughout Joseph’s life he focussed on God and sought to please him with his actions, behaviour and conduct. Not once did he do something to try and bring about his dream in his own strength. He had total faith in God and relied on Him to bring it to pass if that was His will.
The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
Genesis 39:2-4 (NIV)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
Psalm 127:1 (NIV)
Unless God is working in you to bring about your dreams you will only strive and struggle to do it in your own strength. And anything we struggle to accomplish will never be as full and fruitful as it would if God was in control. It will be hard work…for less rewards.
The purpose of our dream is ultimately to bring glory to God, not ourselves. When the dream itself becomes the focus and we loose the perspective of God we open ourselves to compromise and bargaining to achieve the dream. God wants us to have integrity and a good character like Joseph…not jump at the first opportunity to get ourselves ‘ahead’. Sometime we even try to bargain with God! Reminding Him of how long we have waited, or how bad our circumstances are, or how faithful we’ll be if He opens up doors for us.
But as Joseph shows us, we have to demonstrate our faithfulness, our integrity, our servant heart whatever situations we find ourselves in…however long we are there for. God will not forgot us or our dreams…He’s just waiting for the perfect moment to release them when He knows that we’re ready too!
So, if you have a dream today, a desire rooted deep in your heart, then be encouraged. God knows about your dreams and wants to see them flourish too.
I mean, Wow! Sometimes I just get so excited about the potential of everyone living out their God given purposes and dreams! What a difference it could make. What a difference we could make!
So, go on…have faith, communicate, be patient, focus on God and dream BIG!
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