These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Do you have a dream inside of you?  Then commit it to God, and trust him to bring it to fruition.  Joseph had a dream too, but before it could come to pass, he faced ridicule and sabotage and it’s quite likely you will too.  Dream thieves can descend like an army of worms or like a swarm of locusts and within a short while they are gone leaving you devastated.  But sometimes dream thieves are insidious, they creep in like a cancer, co-existing with the host while spreading quietly in your soul before metastasizing and delivering the fatal blow.  Other times they are sneaky, they appear harmless, even helpful, smiling to your face, but all the while working against you and hoping for your downfall.

I remember, when I became pregnant in 2006.  It was the most amazing and most thrilling time of my life.  I cherished every second of it and yet, the dream thieves came calling with unsolicited opinions.  My attending doctor, a wise old man, gave me one important piece of advice, that I continue to apply to other situations of my life.  He said, “Stuff your ears with cotton buds for the next nine months, don’t listen to them.”  I did as he advised, and went on to enjoy nine carefree, blessed months with no morning sickness, no cravings, no complications, just bliss and deep gratitude.  And even though I was no spring chicken at the time, I didn’t miss a single day of work.  Favor!  I trusted that the God who allowed this pregnancy, would protect the new life within me to the very end.  In this case, he did.  I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, who is now 10 years old.  God brought the dream to fruition.

Joseph had a dream too.  When the dream thieves came calling, Joseph declared what he believed God’s purpose for him was, despite the circumstances (Genesis 37: 5-11).  Naturally, his brothers hated him for it and tried to sabotage the dream.  Secondly, Joseph maintained his integrity.  Genesis 39:4b states, “Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.”  Joseph conducted business with integrity, even resisting the advances of Potiphar’s wife.  Lastly, Joseph lived a God-dependent life even amid adversity, believing that his future rested in God’s hands.  In other words, he plugged his ears from all other distractions.  In due course, his dream came to fruition.

Dear friend, entrust your dream to God and it will come to fruition in his time and in his way.  Do not listen to the dream thieves; their purpose is to distract you, but God will use your circumstances to strengthen your faith if you look to him.  The Psalmist notes (Psalm 75:6-7), “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another.”

Dear Lord, thank you for the example of Joseph. I give my dream to you knowing that you who has begun this good work in my life will bring it to completion in your time and in your way.  Amen.