Learn from King David's unfulfilled dream experience
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  January 23, 2012 | Helping Pastors Thrive
         
 
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Responding to Shattered Dreams
by Wade Brown

Have you ever pursued a dream of accomplishing something big for God only to realize that was your dream and not God's dream for you? When I graduated seminary in 1995, I was 35 years old and had a dream of planting a church in a fast growing bedroom community of Columbus, Ohio. I was so convinced this was God's will for me that my wife and I bought a home right away and decided this is where we wanted to settle as a family and raise our kids. In the end ... an unfulfilled dream, a broken heart and an overwhelming sense of failure. Many of you know what that is like. Some of you are there now.

There's a fascinating story in 2 Samuel 7. You know it well. It describes King David's own unfulfilled dream experience. I'd encourage you to read it. But don't just read it. Enter into it. God has used it in my life to help bring healing from my own shattered dream experience.

There are many things we can glean from this story from thousands of years ago. However, there are a few truths I'd like to highlight:

Truth 1: Some dreams are from God and some are not (v. 4-7).
Many dreams are great resolves. They're exciting and they get others excited. Though, if the dream is not from God, it will not come to fruition. David wanted to build the temple, but God essentially said, "No. I have other plans." First Chronicles 17:4 makes that very clear!

Truth 2: When God says, "No," He's not rejecting you (v. 8-9, 11b-13, 16-17).
Listen to Solomon's words from 2 Chronicles 6:7-8 spoken years later: My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart.'

If your dream was to honor God, you did well to have this in your heart. Rest in those words!

Truth 3: When God says, "No," my very best response is humility, cooperation and trust (v. 18-29).
What does that mean? David gives us an incredible example to follow in verses 18-29. This is where I'd encourage you to truly engage with this story of long ago. And remember, God has not rejected you in the midst of your broken dream. Perhaps what He wanted most from you was not for you to do something great for Him, but for you to come, sit down in front of Him and pour out your heart in an honest and intimate way.

Enjoy the journey!

    
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Wade Brown
Director, Church and Community Care
Focus on the Family		    
     
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