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Whether it is articulated or not, we have dreams for our family, for our wife,
for our church, and for our work. But what do you do when your dreams are
unfulfilled? Let us look at Zechariah 4:6, which talks about unfulfilled dreams
and God’s providence.
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might
nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Zec 4:6)
But when dream are unfulfilled and when times are difficult, we can find
three transformation principles.
#1 Principle of Confirmation
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands
will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me
to you. (Zec 4:9)
Ref: blogspot
We often asked the church especially the young people, the question, “Are
you ready?” This is an important question but we have missed something
more important here and more foundational here.
The question to ask is “Are you rooted in the Word of God? Are you rooted in
the deep things of God? Are you rooted in sound doctrine?” Without roots,
we have no foundation and no sustainability.
But the way of the world is the fleshly way of getting things done. If we can
push the right buttons and leverage on our agenda, then the dreams will be
fulfilled. But many discovered that this is not so.
Even with award-winning businessmen, Edmund discovered from his
discipleship with them that they too have no buttons to push—whether their
connections, leadership skills and network—except to depend on God.
Ref: biblegodquotes
He wanted them to know that life is complex and we do not have all the
answers. So, we need to anchor ourselves in God. We need to know that our
dreams and promises are of Him. Make sure God’s Word is central in your
life. Anchor on what He has promised.
#2 Principle of Confidence
Do not be discouraged with your lack of resources because God will provide.
The greater the dream, the greater the obstacle.
The word ‘might’ in this verse means military might but it metaphorically
meant manpower or people help. The word ‘power’ refers to wealth and
influence. What this verse meant is simply, “It’s not what you say you do not
have, but it is by my Spirit.”
Many times, when God asked us to engage in His work, we thought of many,
“If only.” We think, “Because we do not have, we cannot.” But God is no
man’s debtor. He will provide. Do not lament on what you do not have. But
lay hold on what God has and what He is willing to provide.
Ref: gingerciminello
Edmund shared how he and his wife Ann decided to empty their bank
accounts when they started their biblical college in 1983, since God has
asked them to surrender all.
Edmund and Ann would only eat their lunch and dinner in the Bible College
that provided food. And in the weekends, they would eat the leftovers from
cell group. He recalled how she would descend from the bus due to
insufficient funds and walked home for the rest of the journey. But Edmund
and Ann were very happy.
The Lord emptied their bank account for three times, which they happily
surrendered. During the third time, their combined savings were less than
$1500, which is less than their adopted daughters who had $2000 each,
given by their aunt. Edmund asked if they would empty their accounts to
build a house for Jesus. But as preschoolers, they were too young to
understand what $2000 meant.
Ref: myinfoline
Hence, Edmund took their piggy bank and asked if they would give the
money inside for Jesus’ house. Because the piggy bank had no stopper, they
had to break it, to which one of his daughters exclaimed, “Shall we kill
Piggy?” Edmund took this opportunity to tell her about how God provided for
Abraham’s sacrifice for Isaac. The daughters agreed to give to Jesus’ home.
And by Christmas, the children received three piggy banks!
Ref: twimg
Bottom line is when God calls us to do what we are called to do, He will
provide for us the ways to do it.
Have confidence in God. Let Him do your work, especially in marriage. Pray
for your spouse and children. And do not nag or micromanage them. Depend
on God’s timing and press on.
#3 Principle of Consecration
“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord
that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen
capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” (Zec 4:10)
Do not despise the day of the small things. During this time, we need to wait
upon the Lord. The hardest room of faith is God’s waiting room. When
something is not happening, it’s hard. We need the faith to depend on God.
And you cannot wait on God if you have not deeply walked with Him. God in
His time will provide.
The church Edmund was pastoring, Covenant EFC, was the slowest growing
denomination in Singapore. Although he was given many gifts, he waited
and held fast to the promise of God for 28 years for his church to be
transformed into a disciple-making church in the city.
Waiting on God requires confidence in Him that He is not playing games with
us and we can trust Him.
Ref: christimcguire
Edmund shared how he heard his daughter weeping in her room when he
was passing by her room past midnight. Entering her room, he asked her
why she was crying. She said that grandma had thrown away her special
pillow. This pillow was special because her biological parents gave it.
Understandably, this was devastating to a small child. But in his weariness,
Edmund told her daughter that he would buy her a new pillow. The daughter
quickly replied the new pillow would not be the same, which is true!
Staggered by his daughter’s response, he asked the Holy Spirit to give him
wisdom in consoling his daughter. And the Spirit said to him to tell her that
the little pillow represented her past. But God is asking her to let go of her
past because He will be giving her a great future.
Ref: pinimg
Likewise, are you walking in your disappointments of the past or are you
rising to your destiny? Sometimes, we lost our focus on God as we wait upon
Him. But the waiting room is also the bonding room with God. In the waiting
room, we learned to quiet down our souls and fix our eyes not on the
transient money, position, or other worldly pleasures but on our eternal God
alone. We realized not who we are but whose we are. Our hope, identity,
worth, and yes, our dreams, all lie in God and God alone. Hence, He will
surely provide and He will surely bring it to pass, if it is His dreams we are
working for.
Confirm your dream. Have confidence that God will provide. And consecrate
yourself as you wait upon Him.