Broken Dreams
Do you ever wish your dreams would come true?
I watched the season finale last night of “The Bachelor” with my daughter. Two young women were vying for the love and adoration of one man. He had to choose between them before the show ended.
When he told the one girl he loved the other girl and not her, we could see the runner-up’s composure slip a little, but she didn’t burst into tears. Instead, she told him she wanted the best for him and for him to be happy.
That would have changed my mind right then, if I were the guy, but he stuck to his guns and went with his first choice.
My thoughts today are with the girl who was turned down. She said she loved the Prince (from Italy?) and had thought he loved her. She didn’t know what had gone wrong.
It can be heartbreaking when dreams don’t come true. Lost dreams can forge great bitterness. All of us mourn shattered hopes. Regrets, emptiness.
Hagar in the Old Testament saw her cherished dreams of her son, Ishmael, becoming Abraham’s heir ruined, when Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son. When she was cast into the wilderness by Abraham at Sarah’s bidding, Hagar must have thought herself absolutely alone with no dreams left for her life. She thought herself utterly abandoned and forgotten. She was ready to end her life. Then Hagar heard a voice.
“What ails you, Hagar?” (Genesis 21:17)
Hagar suddenly found herself questioned by One at whose hands she had expected no consideration.
It might seem mocking to ask such a question. The question might have filled Hagar, who felt greatly wronged, with rage.
But that wasn't God’s purpose in asking the question. God’s question was meant to show Hagar that He had not lost her. He knew where she was. She had wandered until she had no idea where she was. She hardly knew east from west. She did not know the way to any springs, the path back to Abraham’s tents or any road that offered the least promise of help or safety. She was hopelessly lost.
God knows our disappointments. Just as he spoke to this poor bewildered woman to indicate his watchfulness of her future, He watches over us. Hagar had suffered a stunning blow, but she was not beyond his knowledge or beyond His presence. We are just as watched and protected.
God helped Hagar out of her dilemma and He will help you out of your quandary. Don’t give up. God loves you and wants to care for you.
Take care.
Kayleen Reusser
Kjreusser@adamswells.com
www.KayleenR.com
I watched the season finale last night of “The Bachelor” with my daughter. Two young women were vying for the love and adoration of one man. He had to choose between them before the show ended.
When he told the one girl he loved the other girl and not her, we could see the runner-up’s composure slip a little, but she didn’t burst into tears. Instead, she told him she wanted the best for him and for him to be happy.
That would have changed my mind right then, if I were the guy, but he stuck to his guns and went with his first choice.
My thoughts today are with the girl who was turned down. She said she loved the Prince (from Italy?) and had thought he loved her. She didn’t know what had gone wrong.
It can be heartbreaking when dreams don’t come true. Lost dreams can forge great bitterness. All of us mourn shattered hopes. Regrets, emptiness.
Hagar in the Old Testament saw her cherished dreams of her son, Ishmael, becoming Abraham’s heir ruined, when Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son. When she was cast into the wilderness by Abraham at Sarah’s bidding, Hagar must have thought herself absolutely alone with no dreams left for her life. She thought herself utterly abandoned and forgotten. She was ready to end her life. Then Hagar heard a voice.
“What ails you, Hagar?” (Genesis 21:17)
Hagar suddenly found herself questioned by One at whose hands she had expected no consideration.
It might seem mocking to ask such a question. The question might have filled Hagar, who felt greatly wronged, with rage.
But that wasn't God’s purpose in asking the question. God’s question was meant to show Hagar that He had not lost her. He knew where she was. She had wandered until she had no idea where she was. She hardly knew east from west. She did not know the way to any springs, the path back to Abraham’s tents or any road that offered the least promise of help or safety. She was hopelessly lost.
God knows our disappointments. Just as he spoke to this poor bewildered woman to indicate his watchfulness of her future, He watches over us. Hagar had suffered a stunning blow, but she was not beyond his knowledge or beyond His presence. We are just as watched and protected.
God helped Hagar out of her dilemma and He will help you out of your quandary. Don’t give up. God loves you and wants to care for you.
Take care.
Kayleen Reusser
Kjreusser@adamswells.com
www.KayleenR.com
posted by Kayleen | 4:52 AM
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