Is Your Dream Dying?

            Have you ever spent time and energy trying to save your dream, only to fail?

            A certain synagogue leader, Jairus, was a desperate man. His twelve year old daughter was on her death bed and needed a miracle. He had heard about a rabbi named Jesus who was miraculously healing people. Jairus may have originally been one of the Jewish leaders who was skeptical about Jesus, but now, he needed him. Jairus couldn’t do this on his own. His dream of watching his little girl grow up was fading.

            Did Jairus run all the way to Jesus to plead for help? Was he crying as he fell at his feet? Did Jesus understand this was an emergency?

            Jesus agreed to heal Jairus’ daughter, but didn’t appear to be in a hurry to do so. Along the way, a woman whose been bleeding for twelve years straight, touches the cloak of Jesus so she can be healed. Instead of moving on to Jairus’ house Jesus stops and has an encounter with the woman.

            Time was wasting. Was Jairus looking at his watch? Didn’t Jesus realize this was a life or death situation?

            And Jairus was right. Time was precious. By the time Jesus reached Jairus’ house, some men came out to let them know Jairus’ daughter was dead. The dream of watching her grow up was over. Do you think Jairus’ mind went back to the unscheduled stop along the way?

            However, the crowd of mourners standing by forgot who Jesus was. The scene at his house may have been too much for Jairus. Now he had to muster the strength to walk into his house and see his daughter’s lifeless body. Probably knowing Jairus’ thoughts, Jesus looked at him with compassion and said, Don’t be afraid; just believe. (Mark 5:36)

            What dream has God given you that seems dead?  Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” No matter how things appear, “just believe.”

            So Jesus went into where Jairus’ daughter was, took her by the hand and told her to get up. The dream was resurrected!  Jairus would have many more years with his daughter after all.

            Why did Jesus allow Jairus’ daughter to die in the first place? Why does he allow our dreams to appear dead? I believe it’s because he wants the glory. He wants us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is the CEO of our dreams. We are not. He makes them happen in his timing and sometimes allows them to die so we know we had nothing to do with the outcome.

            I know I’ve had many God dreams that seem to take too long to accomplish.  The clock is ticking Jesus! Let’s get on with it! But sometimes it takes months, or even years before the dream comes true. Sometimes, we give up on the dream because we don’t see God at work.

            In Jairus’ case, he could have taken the credit for saving his daughter.  He is the one who thought to run and get Jesus. What a great idea!  However, Jairus could never take the credit once she was dead. Only Jesus could bring her back to life.

            And that’s the way it is with our God-given dreams. Only Jesus can get the credit for accomplishing them through us. Sometimes he allows dreams to die to build our faith when he resurrects them.

            Has God given you a dream that seems to be dead? “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”