Follow Your Dreams

Follow Your Dreams
John R. Petrilli

In 1988, United States Olympic speed-skater Dan Jansen had dreams of capturing gold at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Prior to his scheduled event, he received a phone call from his mother informing him that his sister had lost her long battle with a terminal disease. Before that call Jansen felt that nothing could make him lose the upcoming race, but after that call he felt nothing could make him win. Despite being the gold medal favorite for the 500-meter event, Jansen suffered a rare false start, and then slipped and fell on the first turn, costing him the race. Later on in that same Olympics he was the favorite to win gold in the 1,000, but fell once again. A chance to redeem and realize his dreams of Olympic gold came in 1992, when Jansen was again favored to win both the 500 and 1,000-meter speed-skating competition. But to everyone’s surprise, Jansen posted disappointing 4th and 26th place losses. The World Olympic Committee cut in half the time between Winter Olympics, so Jansen only had to wait 2 years for another shot at his elusive dream. That chance came at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. But again, a slip forced him to touch the ice with his hand, and he finished 8th in the 500-meter event. Four days later the 1,000-meter event offered Jansen what may have been his last real shot at fulfilling his Olympic dream. At this point in his career he had broken the 36-second barrier in the 500-meter event a total of four times, yet the dream of Olympic gold had repeatedly and incredibly escaped him. After a heart-stopping slip, Jansen quickly regained his balance and won the gold medal in world-record time. He dedicated his gold medal to the sister who had passed away 4 years earlier. Dan Jansen had a dream to capture Olympic gold. Though faced with overwhelming personal tragedy and long-term adversity, the day finally came for Dan Jansen’s dream to come true.

Dreams. We live FOR them, and we sometimes live BY them. What’s YOUR dream? God has planted in each of us a dream to fulfill. As we consider the life of Joseph, we glean four insights that will help us follow and realize our God-given dreams.

FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS REQUIRES THAT WE SUCCESSFULLY DEAL WITH THE DREAMKILLERS THAT COME INTO OUR LIVES.

The book of Genesis records the story of a 17 year-old youth named Joseph who had a series of dreams. These God-given dreams indicated that Joseph would someday rule over his brothers and his parents. In characteristic youthful enthusiasm, Joseph quickly told his brothers and parents the content of these dreams. As one might expect, his revelation to them met with strong resistance. His brothers were filled with resentment that quickly turned to hatred, while his parents were visibly offended and responded with disbelief and disdain. But Joseph didn’t allow their negative feedback to derail his dream. Unable to control the seething rage they felt toward their upstart sibling, his brothers jumped at the first opportunity to get rid of him. That chance came when an Egypt-bound caravan passed through their territory. After stripping him and throwing him into a deep well, they seized the opportunity to sell their own brother to the caravan for the slave price of 20 pieces of silver. Having lied to their father about Joseph’s supposed tragic death at the hands of a ferocious animal, the jealous brothers thought they had destroyed both Joseph and his dreams. But Joseph didn’t allow any of this misunderstanding and mistreatment to discourage him from realizing his dream. He kept his eyes on God, trusting Him to make his dreams come true. In the next chapter of Joseph’s life we find him working as a personal attendant in the household of an Egyptian government official named Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife took notice of Joseph’s handsome features, and decided she’d seduce him. Joseph’s unwillingness to compromise his faith and his employer’s trust landed him in a dark dungeon. What’s more, when Joseph had the chance to get out of jail, the person whose life he helped save totally forgot to appeal to Pharaoh for Joseph’s release! Now the circumstances looked hopelessly bleak, and, instead of getting better, Joseph was left to languish in that jail cell for another two years! A total of thirteen years would lapse between Joseph’s dream and its realization, yet he refused to allow neither the huge injustice of wrongful imprisonment nor the absolute frustration of endless delays to deter him from fulfilling his dream. By God’s grace Joseph managed to focus on the Lord and hold on to his dream.

FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS IN THE CURRENT PLACE GOD HAS US.

One of the most amazing things about the way Joseph dealt with adversity can be seen in his remarkably flexible and resilient attitude. Here’s a young man who has been ridiculed by his family, betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, and even imprisoned for his integrity. Yet there’s not a single mention of any bitterness or rebellion. Instead, we see a guy who just picks-up from where he’s been dropped-off and makes the best of some outrageously bad situations. One of his secrets for coping with dream delay is found in his work ethic. Wherever we find him, be it in a prison or a palace, he always has his shoulder to the grindstone. He could have wallowed in self-pity and wasted away in bitterness and rage, but he chose to leave all his heartaches, hurts, disappointments and delays in God’s hands. He was repeatedly recognized by multiple employers for his excellent work, often resulting in promotions and higher levels of responsibility and privilege. Joseph was faithful in whatever circumstance the mysterious will of God placed him. That faithfulness not only kept him occupied, it actually became the very means God used to get him to where he needed to be. That’s something to remember the next time you may be feeling a case of the “dead-end job blues” coming on.

FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS MEANS ALLOWING GOD TO GROOM US INTO A PREPARED PERSON FOR A PREPARED PLACE.

Being the prime minister of the most powerful country in the ancient world wasn’t a job that just anybody could do. It demanded a high degree of skill, wisdom, and confidence. It would require a great deal of preparation to groom a 17 year-old wet-behind-the-ears kid into Egypt’s next president. In fact it took exactly 13 long years of trials, hardships and setbacks to get Joseph to where he needed to be before God could use him the way He wanted to. We often view adversities as intruders, but God’s Word says that they are actually our friends (James 1:2, Phillips). Amazingly, it is in those adversities that our character is developed. Skill and talent are important, but are virtually useless to God if the person possessing those gifts lacks character. Psalm 105:17-19 says that, “Joseph was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, until what he foretold came to pass, until the Word of the Lord tried him”. God used every trial in Joseph’s life to shape him into the man he needed to be. During his time in what appeared to be a holding pattern, we see Joseph growing in many key areas of leadership development. He grows in his social skills from a bragging kid into a humble servant who is quick to give God all the credit for his interpretive successes. During his prison sentence, Joseph’s experience as a chief warden certainly developed his managerial skills (Gen. 39:22). And most importantly, we see Joseph’s relationship with God blossom during his waiting period, as everything he touches turns to gold, and everyone around him recognizes the fact that the Lord is with him (39:3,21,23). It takes time for us to grow, and during those seasons of delay God is busy bringing about subtle yet critical changes in our lives that will make us effective for Him. The Apostle James says that God uses the trials that come our way to mold us into men and women of sterling Christian character. That’s a good thing to remember when we might feel like life is passing us by and our gifts and talents are being wasted.

FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS REQUIRES THAT WE FIND WAYS TO GLORIFY GOD ONCE OUR DREAM BECOMES REALITY.

As professional football quarterback Tom Brady helped his team win their second consecutive Super Bowl title, he made a shocking confession in a post-game interview. Brady surprised everyone by saying that he was disappointed that reaching his goal really didn’t have the effect on his life he thought it would. Perhaps that crowning achievement left Brady unfulfilled because it was an end in itself. God doesn’t plant dreams in our heart just for the fun of it. His dreams for us have real purpose and lasting value. We’re placed where we are to honor God, serve others, and be a blessing. That’s how we honor the Lord with our dreams. Joseph didn’t use his newfound place of power and influence to advance himself. He used his promotion to glorify God in a number of ways. First, he glorified the Lord by serving well. In Genesis 41 we discover that his proactive economic rescue plan saved, not only Egypt, but the entire world from a devastating famine. Joseph also glorified by God by forgiving those who had injured and opposed him. In Genesis 50:20 he relieves his brothers’ fear and guilt by explaining to them how God actually used their evil intentions to get Joseph to Egypt’s throne, thus enabling him to deliver the entire world from starvation! Joseph also glorified God by using his influential position to bless others. In Genesis 47 we see him arranging the relocation and resettlement of his entire family from Canaan to Egypt. Joseph had served Pharaoh so well that the king gave him a blank check to meet the needs of his extended family, providing them with prime real estate and permanent financial security. Joseph didn’t suffer from amnesia once he made it to the top. He remembered where he came from, and insured that his loved ones would be well cared for.

So what’s your dream? Maybe you’ve yet to determine what God has for your life. Or perhaps you’ve received God’s vision for your life but setbacks and delays have worn down your hopes of ever seeing that dream realized. If so, recall Joseph’s life, and the wise and resourceful way he dealt with the obstacles that stood in the way of his dream. If your dream is from God, it will surely come to pass. In the meantime, it’s the better part of wisdom to ignore the dream-killers in your life, stay faithful where God has placed you, allow the Lord to groom you for your calling, and then use your fulfilled dream to bring great honor and glory to the Giver of all good dreams.