The One Thing No One Wants To Do

Broken dreams aren’t necessarily dead dreams. Just because your dream has not been fulfilled doesn’t mean that it is to be shelved. Sometimes our dreams need time to germinate, to take root, and to develop.

Sometimes the dream is wrong. Sometimes the dream is right, but the timing is wrong. In those times, God says wait. Our culture says don’t just sit there, do something; but God often says don’t just do something, sit there. Wait. Wait on his leading. Wait on his direction. Wait on his voice. 

Psalms 27:14 paints a beautiful picture: “Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord” (Psa. 27:14 NIV). The word picture the Psalmist is describing is of the making of a strong, powerful rope by twisting and weaving ourselves so tightly around the Lord that our weaknesses and frail characteristics are replaced by his power and unparalleled strength. And when we are wrapped around him sufficiently, then we are ready to be sent out to accomplish our God-given dream.

We need to remember that anything worth having is worth waiting for. Or, as one man put it, “He who waits on God loses no time.”

Waiting is not fun. No one likes to wait. During those waiting times we are restless. We want to be up and doing. Yet for weeks or months and sometimes years we are prevented from fulfilling our dreams. We become impatient, we chafe, we become discouraged. And, yet one-day God’s perfect time arrives; and we are fit, we are wiser, we are prepared, we are ready to be shown what God wants to have done.

Often in the waiting, God reshapes our dreams. Such was the case in the late seventeenth century with a youth named Antonio. He loved good music and dreamed of becoming a great concert violinist. It became painfully clear to him, however, that he lacked the talent to make the beautiful music in his soul come out through the violin. What sort of cruel joke was God playing to give him such love for great music but no ability to create it?

Painstakingly, he began to create violins capable of the sounds that he, Antonio Stradivari, could not coax out of them. Over the next seventy-one years until his death at age ninety-three, he made over one thousand violins. The great musicians of Antonio’s day have long since relinquished their skills and fallen silent. But throughout the world, wherever great music is loved, some five hundred Stradivarius violins are still being played.

Broken dreams are often the stepping stones to fulfilled dreams.

Your dreams may be broken, but not shattered. Is God simply trying to change your direction? Is he giving you a new map?

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About Rick Ezell

I am a husband, father, pastor, and writer. This blog is about shaping character, transforming church, and impacting culture. I believe that if one defines their moments then their moments will determine their character and their character will influence their world. I write on personal development, church leadership, and our changing culture. I also write about the resources I am developing and the books I am writing. My goal is to create challenging, relevant, and inspiring content that will help you be a better person, the church be a better parish, and the world a better place. If you are interested in those things, this blog is for you. I have served the church my entire career as a student minister and senior pastor. I studied at Samford University, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (eventually I will get it). I have written eight books. My most recent ones are Chapter 13: The Excellence of Love and Soul Therapy: The Healing Words of Psalm 23. Both are available as eBooks. I have written over 1000 articles for various local, regional, and national publications. I have been married to Cindy for thirty-three years. We have one wonderful daughter. We live in Greenville, SC. In my free time, I enjoy writing, reading, running, tennis, and golf. You can contact me via email or follow me on Twitter or Facebook. This is my personal blog. The opinions I express here do not necessarily represent those of my employer. The information I provide is on an as-is basis. I make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.
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