August 11, 2025
Joseph – Faith That Endures
Devotions from the life of a dreamer with character
17. Forgotten Dreams – but Not by Godn
When God Reminds You of What You’ve Given Up
Daily Bible Verse
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it…’”
Genesis 41:15
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Introduction
Dreams are one way God plants our calling in our hearts.
They can drive us, inspire us, and give us hope.
But what happens when fulfillment doesn’t come?
When the dream drifts farther and farther away, when obstacles pile up, or when we have to wait for years, a crucial question arises:
Was this really from God—or was I mistaken?
In those moments we tend to let go of the dream or close the door on it internally.
But that doesn’t mean God has let it go.
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Joseph’s Journey: Between Dream and Reality
As a young man, Joseph had dreams that were vivid and grand.
He saw himself in a position where others bowed before him—a sign of a special calling.
But after those dreams, everything seemed to go in the opposite direction:
sold by his own brothers, falsely accused, imprisoned, forgotten.
The gap between promise and reality could hardly have been sharper.
Joseph didn’t know how long it would take.
He didn’t know if the dreams would ever come true.
He only knew this: God was with him—even in the waiting.
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What Does Joseph Do While Waiting?
He does not give up.
He does not despair.
He lives faithfully in the small things.
He serves where he is—even in prison.
He uses his gifts, even when no one notices.
He holds fast to integrity, even though it seems to push him lower still.
And most importantly:
He stays inwardly open to God’s work—without any outward confirmation.
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When God Revives the Dream
For two years Joseph hears nothing.
Then God brings him before Pharaoh—suddenly, unexpectedly, without warning.
And Joseph is ready.
He has not only kept his gift—he has matured it.
He is no longer just a young dreamer but a man of wisdom, self-control, and character.
The moment God recalls the dream is not a return to the past—
it is the launch into his true calling.
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What We Can Learn from Joseph
God does not forget what He has planted in us.
Just because we no longer feel it or see it doesn’t mean He has abandoned it.
Waiting is never wasted.
God uses it to prepare us inwardly—for tasks we were not yet ready for.
Calling requires maturity.
Many can dream; few can lead. Joseph had to learn humble service before receiving responsibility.
God fulfills dreams in ways we do not expect.
Joseph’s dreams came true—but in a far greater context than he could have imagined.
Faithfulness in hidden places is the key.
What Joseph lived out in obscurity became the foundation for what later became visible.
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Practical Questions for Reflection
Which dreams in your life have you perhaps given up on or “archived”?
Where do you feel the pain of delay or seeming forgetfulness?
Are you willing to trust anew that God knows when you are ready—not just the dream itself?
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Prayer
Lord,
thank You that You never forget a dream You have given.
Even when I no longer hold on to it—you do.
When You ask me to wait, help me see that the waiting is not empty.
Shape me. Prepare me.
Give me a faithful heart in hidden places
and open eyes for what You want to do—in Your time.
Amen.
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Key Thought of the Day
When God brings a dream back to mind, He will also empower you.
His promises ripen—even when you lose sight of them.
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Blessing to Close
The God who did not forget Joseph
will not forget you.
He sees your path, hears your sighs,
and will call you at the right moment.
Until then may He strengthen your character,
renew your hope,
and guide you faithfully through every season of waiting.
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