If Dreams Don’t Come True

One of the hardest things in leadership…indeed, in life…is when our hopes and dreams don’t become reality. That promotion we had hoped to get. That station we wanted to buy. That major financial support that we needed to reach our goal. What do you do then?

These things are disappointments, for sure. But it isn’t the end of the story. My mind quickly goes to Jesus’ disciples who watched their leader die on the cross. Was that what they were hoping would happen? Did they comprehend all that God was doing at that time with those circumstances? Not really.

Matthew Henry is quoted by Chuck Swindoll as writing:

“Where the Providence of God casts us, we should desire and endeavor to be useful; and, when we cannot do the good we would, we must be ready to do the good we can. And he that is faithful in the little shall be entrusted with more.”

That is not an easy lesson to learn. With a godly vision and a pure heart, we set a goal for an event, an activity, an acquisition, and see that goal dissolve before our eyes. Not easy.

I remember a year in church media when we had proposed a big budget increase to grow the impact of the ministry and improve the quality of excellence we felt would honor God and attract people to His message. The authorities over the church budget didn’t see it that way. The proposed budget was not approved. Hope for that important growth dissolved before my eyes.

After dealing with the disappointment, I was led by the Lord to another thought. We had been moving fast in the ministry, doing a lot. And in the process, some basic organizational needs were being overlooked. With my secretary and some volunteers, we determined to use the next year to get better organized. Important files were put in order. Training material and schedules were updated and expanded. We looked for ways to increase the impact of the ministry without spending money.

The following year we saw the church increase our budget. And we saw new opportunities come for us to grow and expand in amazing ways. We needed that prior year. We needed to make sure the foundation of the ministry was strong, and the structure of the organization was solid. Then we could fully utilize the new opportunities God was bringing us.

So if you can’t do all you could or would…do what you can. The Lord may be preparing new things for you IF you are faithful in the “small” things right before you. And besides, someone may be in need of what you can do today. Solomon put it this way.

[blockquote author=”Proverbs 3:27 (NLT) ” link=”” target=”_blank”]Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.[/blockquote]