Your Dream by Way of Nightmare

God doesn’t allow one, single experience to be wasted on you.  What you think might have been a worthless endeavor, a big mistake, or a pointless job was exactly what God needed you to experience for what’s coming ahead.

What if heartbreak and setback were qualifications for your dream? What if your dream required thick skin and you didn’t have it? Would you be okay with facing letdown after letdown if it helped prepare you?

Oswald Chambers says, “Before God can use a man greatly, he must wound him deeply.” Are you willing to accept pain for greatness?

Comments

[Kyle Reed]

I am learning this big time.

[Marla Taviano]

Thanks for this, Ben. A friend pointed me here today after I blogged about some heartbreak/setback. One of my books went out of print yesterday, and after a little bit of mourning, I'm excited to see what in the world God's going to do with this.

p.s. My husband just said from his desk, "What are you doing on Ben Arment's blog?? I recognize it from here." He's Gabe Taviano, aka GodsMac. Apparently, you two know each other. :)

[Jason Young]

Love the quote by Chambers. I missed a huge part of God until I was deeply wounded (several times). After those experiences, I started to see God move more greatly in my life. I like this post bro.

[robb overholt]

Great thoughts.

[Andrew Edwards]

Thanks for the reminder Ben, this is certainly something I have learnt over the years, living it right now in fact. God has given me a dream and I'm working towards it. Part of that is working in a job that's not 'me' in order to grow, learn and prepare

[Adam D]

Needed that today - thanks Ben

[Lori Zimbardi]

One of my favorite quotes is from Nick Vujicic the Australian speaker who was born without any arms and legs. I saw him at Catalyst West Coast and he said "God doesn't waste a wound". He was talking about circumstance-like being born without limbs but also from our choices and how God will use those for his glory and to fulfill his purpose for us. I love looking at it that way. I think we all need to pray at some point for God to "bend us and break us then help us to stand". Imagine what we could accomplish if we all recognized God's grand agenda and orchestrated intent for our lives and accepted that it may be set forth from a place of great pain.

[Ben Arment]

That was an awesome moment at west... great quote

[Evan Blackerby]

That makes dreaming less of a yoga class and more like surgery. Helps me.