By Dennis Ritchie
Let’s talk about dreams. Not the ones where you show up to work in your pajamas or get chased by a talking raccoon (although, let’s be honest, those might be saying something too). I’m talking about life dreams. The ones that begin when we’re young—when we imagine ourselves curing cancer, becoming billionaires, or gifting mom and dad a mansion with a bowling alley and indoor petting zoo. But then something happens… something called adulthood. Suddenly, the dream shrinks. Now we just want to be happy. Pay our bills on time. Maybe keep a succulent alive. It’s like we traded in the rocket ship for a used lawn mower.
But what do we do when the dream doesn’t come true? When life smacks us with detours, delays, or flat-out dead ends? Do we bury it? Change it? Blame it on bad timing or really bad coffee? Here’s the thing—dreams that can be accomplished without God aren’t dreams. They’re tasks. They’re goals with a to-do list. Real dreams stretch beyond our reach. They require faith, resilience, and sometimes a whole lot of waiting in uncomfortable places—like Joseph in the Old Testament. You know, the guy with the coat and the dreams who ended up in a pit, then a prison, before finally landing in the palace. Joseph had every reason to tap out—but he didn’t. Why? Because his hope wasn’t in the dream. His hope was in the God who gave the dream.
Joseph believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the same God who gave the promise, and was faithful to keep it. Every setback was part of the setup. Every delay was a part of the design. He didn’t just chase the dream—he pursued God through the dream. And when everything around him fell apart, his faith held strong. Spoiler alert: the dream came true. But it didn’t just benefit Joseph—it saved a nation. That’s the kind of dream God gives. Big, bold, redemptive ones.
So next time you’re standing at the crossroads—should I give up, play it safe, settle down?—ask yourself a better question: Am I pursuing the dream more than I’m pursuing God? Because He’s the Dream-Giver, and trust me, He’s not in the business of wasting your passion. Lay your desires at the foot of the cross, and chase after God like He’s your last and only hope—because in the best possible way, He is. And when He starts directing your dream, buckle up. He will finish what He started. After all, He’s a man of His word.