Beloved Stories: When God Puts a Dream in Your Heart

My favorite Bible story as a child was the story of Joseph. (His story can be found in Genesis 37, 39-47.) His life was full of promise and victory, yet he also encountered humiliation and defeat. Little did I know as a child that this story would inspire and encourage me so much as an adult. As I have faced my own share of ups and downs, Joseph’s life reminded me that God always keeps His Word. At a young age, God put a dream in the heart of Joseph and then carried it through to completion. Has He put a dream in your heart as well?

Joseph was a dreamer…

Joseph had high hopes for his life because God put dreams in his heart. At an early age, God gave him actual dreams about his future as a ruler. He didn’t know how it all would play out, but he knew in his heart that God had a unique plan for his future. Has God put a dream in your heart? Has He inspired you towards action in some way? Perhaps you’re like Joseph and are unsure how God is going to get you from point “a” to point “b.” Trust that He will get you there and don’t lose hope.

Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers…

Have you ever been betrayed by someone you trusted? In their jealousy, Joseph’s brothers did the unthinkable. They sold their own brother into slavery and then faked his death. Not only was this cruel towards Joseph, but can you imagine being their father Jacob? The grief he would experience would leave him broken for many years to come.

Joseph endured trials and periods of waiting…

Being sold into slavery wasn’t his only dilemma. Joseph was also wrongly accused and thrown into prison. And even though God gave him favor in prison and never left his side, he still had to endure a time of waiting and wondering.

Joseph received his promise…

When reading the story of Joseph, it’s easy to forget how many years pass before God’s promise was finally realized in his life. But the truth is that everything Joseph endured prepared him for all that God had planned for his life.

Joseph forgave…

God worked all things together for his good and for the good of the Israelite nation. When face to face with his brothers once again, Joseph made the decision to forgive them. In the end, his entire family came to Egypt, which is right where God needed His people to be for all He had planned for their future.

When I was younger, God put dreams in my heart. They weren’t actual dreams like Joseph, but they were dreams nonetheless and I knew that God had inspired them. But I faced opposition in my life. Betrayed by close friends, I found myself beaten up and without hope. I spent several years of my life working through what had happened to me. I have to wonder if I experienced some of the same emotions Joseph undoubtedly felt in prison. Did God still have a plan for my life? Had He forgotten about the dreams He placed in my heart? Would I ever recover?

Today, my life looks very different. I find myself in awe of the healing God has done in my life. It wasn’t overnight, but rather it took time. I had to take things one day at a time. And when I look back, I can’t help but wonder if everything I went through was exactly what needed to happen to get me from point “a” to point “b.”

You see, if Joseph’s brothers hadn’t betrayed him and sold him into slavery, he would have never seen his dream realized. Did it break God’s heart when Joseph faced struggle and hardship? The Bible doesn’t say for certain… but knowing the character of God, I believe it did. And what the enemy meant for harm, God turned it around and used it as part of His plan for Joseph’s life.

Has God put a dream in your heart?

God works all things together for the good of those who love Him… even the things that are difficult and don’t make sense. Our journey in life can seem complicated and messy at times, but God is faithful to use every part of our story to bring us closer to Him.