Dreams Turned to Nightmares

What now? As we pass through life everyone has dreams of things they want to do. Dreaming is where great inspiration is born and ideas are turned into reality. What happens when our dreams turn into nightmares? The vision and excitement we once had has now given way to life’s troubles and the nightmare begins. Have you ever dreamed of something while you’re sleeping that made you feel as if you were walking on air? Everything in your dream is perfect, just the way you see the future. In this dream you are realizing all of the hopes and desires carried since childhood. Have you ever had dreams like this that turned into a nightmare instantly? Typically when this happens to me it seems so real that when I am jolted awake. My heart is pounding and my body is tense. It takes me a minute to realize it was a nightmare and that it’s over now. The effects of a nightmare can be carried throughout the day. For some, this can linger on for a lengthy amount of time. Nightmares do a number on us. They mess with our minds, emotions, and affect us physically. These horrific scenes can play over in our minds and suck out any life we had left and kills our dreams. My life has resembled this trajectory. In younger days being filled with vision, dreams and passion to serve God with all my heart were vibrant. Everything was going well and it appeared I was on my way to fulfilling those dreams. As time moved forward and various troubles came my way, my dreams quickly vanished. There are many things that can crush our dreams. Loss of a loved one, sitting under abusive authority, depression, addiction, and the list goes on. One thing seems to pile on another until your dreams have turned into nightmares. Many of these dark places you’ve been are not your fault. But this makes it nonetheless painful or traumatic. Dreams turned to nightmares can take the very life and soul out of someone. The only thing they know to do is survive trying to get from one day to the next. Our dreams have long since passed and we find ourselves scratching and clawing to make our way out of this nightmare. This is the story of my life. Living a nightmare for many years brings a person to a state of confusion, depression, psychological challenges and even physical sickness. I know, that’s what happened to me. Each of us can feel as if our struggles and dark times are unique in many ways. We think no one else has had it this bad. My path was to go down into deep despair and never allow my dreams to resurface because that is where this nightmare began. After all, it began with my dreams. Nightmares in our lives can cause us to be hard and rigid. Suspicion and reluctance rule the day. We say to ourselves “that’s never going to happen to me again.” Our heart turns hard and our walls of defense become a fortress that will snuff out any new thoughts of dreaming again. We position ourselves inside this fortress vowing to shoot down any promptings from God or others that may cause us to hope again. Our nightmares in life are real. They hurt deeply into the future. The shrapnel does damage we can’t get our head around. So here we are, beaten, broken, and giving up. It took a miracle from God to break down the walls of my heart and give me a passion to dream again. After everything that has happened in my life I am once again filled with vision and strategic thinking. My original dreams were never realized because the nightmares derailed them. Now after 43 years since my conversion I am dreaming again. A friend recently sent me a scripture verse with a strong impression. The verses were based out of Joel 2. His impression was that the Lord would open up the floodgates to me to make up for the years the locusts have eaten. I grabbed onto that and feel with all my heart this is true. God wants me to dream again! When I think back to age 20 and all the things the Lord said, I had completely given up. Now so many years later after nightmares of traumatic experiences I am full of fervor and faith. In my last few years these dreams will be realized. The Lord gives us dreams in order to expand his kingdom. But that’s not all, he gives us these dreams to be fulfilled and live the abundant life. Whatever he has called us to do, he is fully capable of bringing our lives back around full circle. What about you? How long has it been since you have dreamed? Even though we may have given up years ago does that mean he is still not willing and capable of fulfilling those dreams in us? It doesn’t matter where we have been in the past. Neither does it matter how much we have blown it. Regardless of what has happened to you don’t give up. If Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed multitudes with a few fish and loaves, what can he do with you? The birth of Safe Harbor Network finds its origin in dreams turned to nightmares. If God placed dreams in you once upon a time, ask him to rekindle the flame. We are here to help you realize whatever those dreams might be. If not with us, God has the perfect place for you. Remember how defeated and empty the disciples were after Jesus was crucified? The good news is the risen Christ appeared to them over a period of 40 days. That was the impetus that began the early church with signs and wonders. Ask him to appear to you once again. Dare to believe he will use you in the same way. Turn your nightmares back into dreams and allow Him to open the floodgates of heaven the locust have destroyed. Dream big, God he is pleased when we do. It’s never too late.