Every single one of us goes through life with
some disappointment, loss, or broken dreams. This doesn’t mean we’re failing
but it shows that we’re trying. The only difference between success and failure
is when we stop trying and give up.
Many people are living a
down, defeated and mediocre life because they have given up on themselves. People
debate that the richest place on earth is not the diamond mines of Africa or
the oil fields of the Middle East. However, I’ve found that the richest place
on earth is the graveyards where dreams got buried without ever being
fulfilled. Witty inventors, engineers, doctors, scientists, authors, business
persons, politicians, actors, artists are buried in there because people gave
up a little too soon. They died with their dreams still inside. Today, my
challenge to you is don’t die with a dream still in your heart.
In the Bible, if someone stole an ox, he had
to pay back five oxen. If someone stole a sheep, he had to return four more.
Proverbs says the thief will have to return seven times more than what he
stole. In Isaiah, God promised that He would pay you back double for your
trouble. Notice the principle, God always gives you back more than what you’ve
lost!
Our co-workers in India work among the slum dwellers.
They minister to the poorest of the poor, who spend their day looking through
the garbage or doing menial jobs. Their ambition is to find something – in the
trash. Our evangelists are faithful to share the Gospel with them. By the grace
of God, a large number of slum-dwellers have come to know the Lord. Their
prayer to God has been for a better life. You
know, there’s a special place in God’s heart for the poor.
One day,
the slum-believers got news that the government was going to widen the road and
their little shacks were going to be demolished. They were in total despair! But
they prayed and trusted the Lord for their safety and protection. Not many days
after the “bad news,” they got
another report. The local government was going to give them a substantial
amount of money so each of them could have their brick and mortar house. They were
also promised one government job (steady income) for each family for the rest
of their lives for the inconvenience of having to move away from their “homes.” What looked like a disaster for
the slum-dwelling believers became a huge blessing from the Lord.
Friend, sometimes
what looks like a setback is actually a setup. Right now God is getting you in
position to promote you! You may feel defeated and discouraged but instead of
feeling despair, why don’t you trust in God that somehow, someway, He will turn
your tears into triumph! Remember, nothing happens to you; everything happens
for you. Your greatest battle ground will become your biggest harvest field. It’s
time for you to resurrect your dream.
Today as you
celebrate Easter, remember, no other man in history has done what Jesus did for
us. Painful as it was, our Lord went through the experience of Calvary because
He saw the crown and not the cross. He kept the resurrection in focus.
You too have gone
through the death. You’ve gone through the burial. Now is your time for
resurrection! When you look beyond your pain, suffering, and disappointments,
then you’ll find it easy to get to your resurrection. Psalm
30:5 says, “Weeping may tarry for the
night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Friend, just because a few things have gone wrong in your
life doesn’t mean God is through with you. You have kept the faith. You’ve
helped a multitude of people. You’ve sacrificed for your family. You have taken
a stand for God. You’ve kept your integrity.
Don’t just think that your reward is coming, your reward
is here. Today is the day. This is
the week. This is the month. This is the year! God never aborts a dream. I pray
and declare that every dream you’ve received from God will come to pass. All of
the dreams you buried will come back to life. You’ve gone through the death,
you’ve gone through the burial, now is the time for your resurrection. Happy
Easter!
“We went through fire and flood, but you
brought us to a place of great abundance” (Psalm
66:12 NLT).
