When a Dream (or Someone You Love) Dies

“... He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 NKJV

Some valleys are valleys of death—desert land, dry and dusty with no signs of life. The heat is oppressive and your thirst unquenchable. It’s not you who died, but it’s you who now have to find a way to get on with the business of living.

Psychologists tell us there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. Acceptance that someone orsomethinghas died. For you, it may be a literal death in the family. For someone else, it may be the death of a dream or a relationship or an opportunity.

No matter what has brought you to this place of grief, this wrestling with death and dying, I’d like to suggest a sixth stage of the grief process: Joy.

I’m not at all making light of the grief process. Trying to “move on” with life without acknowledging your loss can regrettably create more pain down the road.

However, you’re doing yourself and those around you a huge disservice if you never go beyond the stage of acceptance. Like the widow who lives the rest of her life in black mourning clothes, you close the door on God’s intention for your life—to be blessed and to be a blessing.

It takes an act of faith to move forward. It takes a deep belief in God’s purpose and calling to throw off the grave clothes and dust off your dreams. Despite the loss, despite the disappointment, you must believe that God is not finished yet. There is a good work he wants to do in you and through you.

There is joy ahead if you are ready to step into your future. Stir your faith and believe.

Pray:“God, I cry out to you for help! Come, Lord. Take my grief and my sadness and turn it into joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Seek: Are you grieving? Are you stuck in acceptance mode? Commit your loss—whether it is a loved one or a dream—into God’s hands and believe for the future.

Speak: God is not finished with me yet. He who began a good work in me will complete it!