Over my lifetime, there have been a few times when something that I cherish and love, a talent, a friendship, a ministry, a dream... has seemingly been allowed to vanish. Chances are you have experienced this too: a job that was promising dries up, a marriage that you counted on evaporates, the plan you had for your future fizzles, the ministry that you've always wanted to be a part of that finally falls into your lap... just as quickly leaps out of your reach again.
The loss of a dream is like a death... hands that were full are now empty and grasping, and if we don't understand the way our God works, we will be overcome with grief. The Bible tells us that God's calling on you (the dreams and gifts He has placed within you) is without repentance - that means it is forever. So, how does that fit in with the fact that every once in awhile, God allows something we love, that He has grown in us, to go missing?
This past Thanksgiving weekend we did something we never do: We took an impromptu road trip, packed up the kids, and headed out to Sea World in Orlando. It turned out to be an awesome, fun-filled adventure.
So many little things turned our two day trip into a string of big memories that we will never forget... but there was one moment during this trip when our hearts stopped with fear and our worst nightmare came rushing up into our faces.
We had just asked a kind stranger to take this family pic of us outside of the Shamu Stadium, the busiest little spot in the theme park. Sara Rose was having such a hard time being still for the photo, super excited to go see Shamu. After the pic, we returned the favor for another family, all of us thinking that the other had Sara Rose in their arms. Warren took the pics, returned the camera to the rightful owner, and we turned to see our boys looking back at us... and no Sara Rose in sight.
The four of us turned in circles, scanning the area and seeing nothing, calling out her name. Whenever we made eye contact with each other, we could see the gut wrenching horror that we each felt mirrored in the other's eyes.... I can still hear the pounding of my heart in my ears and the clenching fist of dread wrapping around my chest.
... and then there she was. Skipping through a sea of knees, hands filled with flowers, huge gooey smile on her face. There she was.
I have never seen such a wonderful sight in all of my life! We all took turns hugging her and holding her, laughing... and yes, I cried a little.
The loss of a dream can be a lot like those moments when we thought we had lost Sara Rose: fear, loss, worry, our imaginations unfolding the next few hours, days, and years as endless, hopeless, and horrible.
BUT WAIT!!!! - This is where you must keep in mind something that will change the way you look at those moments in your life, for the rest of your life: At one point in history, for three days to be exact, it seemed to the whole world that Jesus was dead, too... and he was. Jesus was indeed dead, the dreams of all the world dashed and stolen, our future seemingly destroyed, all our hope taken away.
In fact, this was not the first time we had been robbed - remember Adam and Eve in the garden? What plans, what dreams, what a future, all of us were going to rule the world with God, walk with the animals and hang out with Jesus every night - God had hooked us up! And then after one bite of that apple..... poof! All dreams gone. Future destroyed... right?
WRONG! Jesus won it all back when the stone rolled away on the third day - He conquered death and insured our future, our destiny, once and for all.
Our God loves new beginnings and broken things. The thing that seems to vanish, the precious dream that is gone - that is just the moment where God comes in and starts a new work!! Just as Sara Rose came running back up to us out of nowhere, God's dreams and future for you will come upon you again - He will never leave your hands empty as long as you keep them open, ready for new dreams to fill them.
I don't know what dream, friendship, ministry, or future has been taken or is missing from your life, but know this: It is not the end, it is another beginning. God will give it back to you, only this time, you will have learned some valuable lessons and skills, be better equipped to recognize the gift and walk in it, and keep those hands open, be ready for God to grow that dream beyond what you are able to hold.
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