Bringing our Dreams to Birth

“Then Joseph had a dream,...”

Gen 37:5

Just as God gives us gifts and talents He also gives us dreams, not just in the physical sense but also in the sense of hopes and desires for our future. Many actual dreams and visions are recorded in the Bible and God still speaks in this way, but sometimes it is more of a feeling or impression we have of what God is saying, or calling us to do. We may be called to serve God in particular area of life and have a dream to see change or breakthrough in these areas. Sometimes we have big dreams far above what we could accomplish ourselves or seemingly insignificant dreams which are actually of immense value in God's unfolding plan.

When God puts these dreams within us they are in seed form and they need to develop and grow. It took years for Joseph's dream to become a reality and it is interesting to note that during the waiting Joseph interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer, baker and Pharoah. He saw their dreams happen and this led to a breakthrough in his. We do not stop everything while we wait but allow the process to develop. Just like a baby in the womb our dreams take shape and become clearer in detail before the time comes for them to emerge. As we consider the natural process of pregnancy and birth we can learn how to co-operate with the ways of God.

When a woman discovers she is pregnant it is usually in the early stages. At this time there is little evidence that anything is happening. The outward signs are not there for others to see and she must believe the medical fact rather than the visual evidence. Then she begins to act on what she believes has been entrusted to her. She knows her cooperation in the process is important. She tells people close to her the news. They too believe that in a few months the baby will appear and they share her excitement.

The next part of the pregnancy is long and she can expect some discomfort. During this time she nurtures the new life within her, stopping any activity which might harm the baby and eating healthy food so that the baby will grow strong. Some women experience sickness, backache, high blood pressure and emotional changes as their body adapts to its new function. There are endless medical checks, blood tests and prodding by relative strangers to ensure that everything is progressing as it should. The outward signs begin to show and the baby begins to move, which at first is exciting, but later becomes uncomfortable especially during the night. In the later stages she feels that she will burst if she is stretched any more and the days are long as she waits for the birth.

There is another important part of the process which is to prepare for the new arrival. There are things to buy which is great fun if finances allow, a whole new world of shopping is revealed. Mums to be make new friends who they can share the experience with and often turn to others who have had the same experience for guidance. She must also make room, not just in her house, but also in her life for the demands the baby will make. She may need to make radical changes in her lifestyle and not everyone will be happy about this. As the baby grows and develops so does the structure to support the new life.

Most women give birth in hospital and pack their suitcase as the date approaches with everything they need for the birth. Sometimes there is a false alarm and she returns home to continue her wait. It can seem like the baby will never arrive and despite her attempts to hurry things along the date may come and go leaving her anxious and upset. People's helpful comments can be really irritating and their stories about things that happened to them or their friend can be frightening.

The day finally arrives and she has mixed emotions of excitement and anxiety, and of course pain! It is a painful messy process to give birth and it varies greatly from person to person, but when the baby is born the joy is overwhelming. Most women have support from medical professionals and their husband and they share this wonderful moment together. Soon she will be responsible for this tiny life and, even with a husband and family to help, she still plays the greatest part in the early years. The process of pregnancy is now over and the birth propels her into a new season.

It is easy to see the parallels with the growth of the dreams within us as we long for the day they will come to pass. At first we may hardly dare to believe as the outward signs deny it. We tell a few close friends who we believe will share our excitement, encourage and support us. It is good to write down what you believe God is saying to you.

“Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run.”

Habbakuk 2:2

When the initial excitement wears off we must hold onto our God given dreams and trust Him to bring them to pass. We must nurture them and feed on good things, ignoring the negative comments of those who would discourage us or tell us stories of failure and disaster. We may begin to feel emotional as we are changed by the Holy Spirit. We are tested by people and circumstances which God allows to reveal our progress. It may be an uncomfortable time as our dream takes shape squeezing everything else out of our life as it becomes the most important thing to us. It may seem to take forever and stretch us so much that we can hardly bear it, but even though our faith is often tested to the limit, God will not give us more than we can endure. We do not want to give birth prematurely to a weak or partly formed dream.

As we wait we should learn from the Holy Spirit who is our teacher and from those men and women of faith who have gone before us. Then we will be prepared, not only for the birth, but the days ahead. We must begin to adjust our lives to make room for the fulfilment as we prepare for the birth of our dreams. It may cost us in time and money as we invest our life into the dream. We may need to adjust our lives, letting go of some things that were good in the past but now would hinder us in our new season. We need to allow others into our lives to support the dream, even though it is our “baby” and we will play the major part in its development in the early stages. I have heard that African people say “It takes a village to raise a child”.

There may be an opportunity that arises that seems just right and we step out only to find it is a false alarm. We are left feeling disappointed that this was not our time when others may have their dreams fulfilled. We may even feel our time is overdue and try to hurry things along, but we know God's timing is perfect (although it is not what we want to hear at that moment).

“The vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.”

Habbakuk 2:3

It may be a difficult birth and we may suffer a little when we are in the final stages, but the joy we feel will make the process worthwhile. When our dream is revealed, whole and complete, we will forget the difficulties and focus on the result of our labour. Of course this will not be the end, merely the beginning of the new season of our life, and the greatest challenges lie ahead.