Monday Meditation When a Dream is Delayed (Part 1)
Please join me for part 1 of two guest posts by Stephen Robinson this week, I hope you’ll enjoy them.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 1:35
During my regular devotional time early one morning a few months ago in March, I felt as if the Lord gave me a clear vision of leading a morning Bible study at a car dealership. I hope you’ll read on to hear more about my journey of disappointment, dreams, and how this vision has come to fruition.
Hello, Listening on the Journey … reader. I’m Stephen, and perhaps we’ve met before in one of the guest posts Sue invited me to write. On several occasions, I’ve shared my stories of God’s faithfulness to me during times of trials and triumphs. This week, I’d like to share some thoughts about delayed dreams. If you know what I’m talking about, I hope and pray my story will be encouraging to you.
Did you know that the question “How long …” is asked over 50 times in the Bible? The frustration of hopes, dreams, and prayers which are delayed is common to humankind.
When Dreams are Dashed
In December 2025, three months before the vision the Lord gave me, I experienced my second layoff in two years, and I wasn’t sure what to expect in the new year. I had submitted hundreds of resumes without success. I’d spent hours dreaming about starting my own consulting business, but investing money we didn’t really have to try and get this business idea off the ground didn’t pan out as I had hoped.
Not being any closer to steady income, my wife suggested I consider returning to the car business. Several years before working in the tech industry, I spent a few years working at a few local dealerships in town and I really enjoyed my time in the business. There’s an excitement and energy on the showroom floor that is hard to beat. I took a few days and prayerfully considered her suggestion, and after seeking some wise counsel, I took the plunge in mid-March and started as a Sales Consultant at George Gee Kia. I kept waiting for a chance to gather a few of the guys together for a bible study in the morning before work, but the opportunity never arose. While I loved meeting new people and the camaraderie with my co-workers, it didn’t feel as fulfilling as I had hoped. Something was still missing, and I discerned another career change was on the horizon.
Note: There’s more to my story about delayed dreams and God’s faithfulness. I hope you’ll check out Listening on the Journey … blog on Thursday for the rest.