"Dreams Deferred No More"

“Dreams Deferred No More"

Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Langston Hughes

Similar to Langston Hughes, I too have often wondered not only what happens to our dreams that are deferred, but also why have they become deferred in the first place. Many of us have aspirations and dreams that actually come to fruition at one point or another. However, there are those of us who have yet to catch a glimpse of anything that resembles a piece of what we had once hoped to see. Could it be that our dreams or our aspirations are nowhere near God’s dreams or aspirations? Or is it that the realization of these dreams never materialize because we are bound by fear, which has caused us to move no further than where we are… no further than the land of the familiar.

This reminds me of the book “The Dream Giver”, by Bruce Wilkerson. Bruce shares with us a simple yet profound story about a character and his challenges with living in the land of Familiar. Ordinary is his name. Ordinary had a desire to become more than just ordinary, but his fears had the potential of keeping him from discovering the dream that awaited him. Like Ordinary, I wonder how many of us never reach our full potential in life because we have allowed our fears to talk us out of “becoming”.

If it’s not fear of the unknown, it’s either our own limitations, or the voices of those around us that influence our decision not to move forward towards a dream. And most of the time those that have influence over us are afraid to move beyond where they are. Yet these are the ones who are persistent in making sure that we never out-do them. It is sad to say, but its true. Some folk cannot stand to see you blessed. This sounds a lot like young Joseph and how his brothers and his circumstances attempted to kill his dreams, but failed (Gen. 37-50).

Was it that young Joseph was a risk-taker; he was young and did not have much to loose while in pursuit of the dream? Or was it that Joseph understood that the dream wasn’t his? The Dream Giver, God, had revealed to Joseph His plan and purpose for his life. God spoke to Joseph through his dreams, and disclosed to him what the future held in store for him and his people. Joseph believed the dream and shared what he saw, which lead to the dream unfolding in his life.

What dream has the Dream Giver given to you that lies dormant? What are you afraid of? Is it your age, your financial situation, or is it just fear? If God has given it to you years ago and it is still in your mind and heart today regardless of your age, it means that you have not outgrown it. If you still have the dream but no finances, if its God’s dream, He will provide. And if you have fears about the dream, don’t let them stop you from pressing forward. Often times our greatest discoveries or blessings are in the directions where we would most likely never travel.

If God has given you a dream, go after it... Because its waiting to explode in your life!