Joseph dreamed a dream.
Genesis 37:5
Closets are museums of broken dreams: dresses we bought in hopes of having an occasion to wear them, shoes we wore only once. And there are outfits that almost fit when we bought them, thinking we would lose a few pounds but never did.
Recently I had to make more space in my cramped closet. As I ruthlessly discarded items that were too old or no longer fit me, I came across the dress. I had bought it 15 years earlier because it was the perfect dress for a special occasion. Even though I didn’t need it at the time, I bought it because it made me feel young, slim, and attractive.
As the years passed, I wore it only once, but it was so beautiful that I kept it, thinking there would surely be another occasion when I would wear it and again feel young, slim, and attractive. But as I studied it a few days ago, I was forced to admit that my wonderful dress was not only out of style, but no longer fit my middle-aged body.
I cried as I put the still-beautiful dress in the bag to take to the thrift store – cried for dreams that never came true, for the times I wanted to feel young and attractive, times that never happened. Life is littered with broken dreams, and that dress is a symbol of mine.
I’m reminded of another person who had broken dreams: Joseph, the dreamer, the favorite son of his father, Jacob. Joseph surely shed tears when he was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. He must have cried, if only inside, when Potipher’s wife lied about him, and he was put in prison. But despite disappointments and injustices, he did not turn his back on God. Eventually God used Joseph’s dreams in a much bigger way than he imagined, to save an entire nation from famine. In the process God gave Joseph new dreams and bold new realities – prime minister of Egypt, savior of his own family, and finally, reunion with his beloved father.
From Joseph’s story we learn that God is interested in our dreams, but His dreams for us are much bigger than our own. God sometimes delays making our dreams come true so that greater good may come about. As I cried about my dress, I realized that God’s dreams for me have always been bigger than a dress. Countless times He has taken my broken dreams and used them for the good of others and for His glory. I am safe giving my dreams to God.
Blessed - Copyright © 2012 by the General Conference Women’s Ministries Department