We're going to be looking at how to secure God's dream for your life these next several days. Yesterday, we started looking at potential dream busters. We'll continue that line of thought today.
#2. Friends can be dreambusters.
In Mark 5 we have the story of Jairus, a man who had a sick daughter. He had come to Jesus and said, "Jesus would you heal her?" while Jesus was walking to the house, it says v. 35 "While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus [they were his friends, they came from his house] and they said, `Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher any more?'" They said, "Jairus, we know you've got a dream. We know that your desire is for your daughter to be healed but she's dead. It's hopeless. Why bother?" With friends like that, who needs enemies?
I like what Jairus did, in v. 36, "Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, `Don't be afraid just believe.'" Sometimes you have to ignore your friends. They're going to say, Why bother? Why put forth the effort? They can be a dreambuster.
The Bible says, “Watch who your friends are.” They can influence you. "Bad company corrupts good character." It also busts your dreams. It drains you of enthusiasm. You have heard me say this before, and it is so true. Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future!
The fact is, sometimes your family can be a dream buster. Sometimes your friends can be a dream buster. There’s a third potential dream buster!
#3. Fatigue can be a dreambuster!
Sometimes we're just too tired to be creative. We get so busy that we don't have time for long range planning. You get so busy in the now you can't think about what's ten years ahead. You get tired and you lose your interest and your vision starts to shrink and you get burned out and you settle for second best.
1 Kings 19 is the story of Elijah. It's a clear example of this. Elijah had just had a tremendous experience with the Lord in the God contest up on Mt. Carmel. After it's over, he hears that Jezebel is trying to kill him. So he runs across the desert. He's physically drained, emotionally exhausted, and mentally he's a washout. He runs and hides in a cave and has a pity party. "Poor me! I'm the only one left. I'm going to throw in the towel. Take my life. Let's get it over with. I'm tired of living. Let's just settle it now!" I call this the Elijah Syndrome! You get so fatigued, you lose your dream. You focus on the problem instead of the problem solver!
I love God's antidote to fatigue!. 19:5, Elijah had fallen asleep under a tree. "The angel touched him and said, `Get up and eat.'" He looked around and there was a cake of bread baked by some hot coals and he ate and drank and lays back down and goes asleep again. The angel comes a second time and touches him and says, "Get up and eat some more. The journey is too much for you."
God's antidote to Elijah's depression was eat, sleep, eat, sleep. Sometimes it's amazing how much better things look after a good night's rest. Here is great truth that you can build your life on…
Never make a major decision when you're depressed. That is one time when procrastination is legitimate. Put it off. They tell you in seminary, “Never resign on Mondays, after a full day on Sunday.” Never make a major decision when you're depressed. Never decide to quit when you're tired. You'll regret it. Wait until you get a little energy back, you get your perspective back.
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