There you are sitting in your room thinking of what you want to be. Or, you’re at your desk in the office staring out the window thinking of the office you really want to have. Or, you’re doing your daily chores dreaming of that business idea you have. Dreams are the starting line of success. Without them, we would go nowhere. However, when we embark on the journey in pursuit of those dreams, the real work begins.
Nehemiah was a man with a dream. He would work for King Artaxerxes as a cupbearer dreaming of the day when his people, the Jews, would be restored to their former glory with the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. His heart was bent on it and his imagination drew him pictures every hour of what could be. One day, his dreaming thrust him into the center of a pivotal moment. The king asked Nehemiah why he seemed so sad and pensive. Nehemiah then told the king the shame that had occurred to his people and then dared to ask for permission to pursue his dream.
I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. 9So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites. Nehemiah 2:7-10 NIV
Nehemiah saw his opporutnity to spring into action for the sake of his dream. He asked the king for the permission and support necessary. It was granted and I’m sure that he had a party to celebrate the momentous occassion. The dream of a renewed Israel was about to become true! However, look at verse ten again. Sanballat and Tobiah hated what was happening and decided to oppose Nehemiah’s dream. At the very beginning of the dream, the opposition is asserting itself. They were digging in their heals to fight Nehemiah to the death. They hadn’t even met Nehemiah, but his dream was the only thing they needed to set themselves up against this man of vision.
Your dream will incite opposition. People who don’t even know you will be against you for no other reason than to foil the dream of your heart. It’s nothing personal, but yet it is immensely personal all at the same time. If you’ve dreamed a dream and have stepped through the door of opportunity, then be assured that your Opposition is readying itself and will be awaiting you.
What kind of opposition have you encountered in the pursuit of your dreams? How have you handled it?
Sometimes that opposition is myself, my insecurity and fears that stop me from going forward. I have to overcome that and step out in faith.
I have to agree with you, amor. It is my own doubts that keep me from realizing the dreams in my heart. We have to have faith in ourselves. I, for one, believe in you! You are a treasure that most of the world has yet to find. Honestly, I kind of like that in a selfish way, because you’re all mine! Te amo.
Hey Joseph,
This is amazing. This is the exact scripture God gave me, that started the journey I’m right now pursuing the dreams that God put in my heart. I glad you posted this, it is a reminder of God promises and hope.
Carlos!!! I’m glad that this post has helped encourage you. Eres un amigo verdadero! I know that God has placed large dreams in your heart. I feel that He did so just to keep you in His favor. So many miracles have happened in your life because you are right in the middle of making those dreams come true. If you were to pursue an easier dream, you wouldn’t see the hand of God at work in so many areas of your life. Creo en ti. ¡Haz lo que está en tu corazón!
This is really cool on two different levels. I lately have been looking at colleges for my masters degree and what I would really like to do, most people are opposed to me doing. And the church I have been attending is teaching on Nehemiah and his dream/heart for Jerusalem and how that translates to out personal dreams/heart for God.
Isn’t that the way of things? When you finally zero in on what you want to do–which is in itself an arduous process!–there are always those who don’t like it. Oh, they believe that you can do it, but they can’t help but feel as though it’s a waste of talent, time and money. Trust your heart. There will be numerous times in life when you can’t trust your heart, because it will lie to you. But when you have spent sufficient time in introspection and prayer for the fate of your future, the heart will reveal its secrets. No one else will know what your heart is saying and so how could they possibly know what to say to your cockamamie dreams? You are good stuff, Cathy, and your heart is going to lead you to good places. I, for one, can’t wait to see where you go in life!