DREAM COME TRUE

DREAM COME TRUE
Psalm 126:1 
“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.”

For the people in exile, freedom came like a dream. Their nation Israel conquered, their city Jerusalem devastated, their Temple demolished, they were carried into captivity. Far from home in Babylon, seventy years passed, and generations arose that only heard stories of the mighty acts of their God, and shared distant memories of the glory of their homeland Zion.

Then their God, the LORD, did something: a turnaround, an answer to prayer, a dream come true! A king arose in Babylon who not only allowed, but encouraged the exiles to return home (2 Chron 36.22-23). So inexpressible was the joy that it was almost unbelievable, like waking up from a wonderful dream to find it surreal—and real. The people of Babylon exclaimed, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The people of Israel responded, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.” (vv.2-3)

Such was the experience we had when Haggai Institute set out to plant a leadership training centre in Hawaii. Land was bought on the island of Oahu, but before construction could begin, ancient sacred sites were found, and laws prohibited building on them. Another site was acquired on Maui, but local residents vehemently opposed the intrusion of privacy into their retirement enclave in the mountain. After years of delay, we decided to set up office in a hotel and start training sessions there. Within a year, the hotel went bankrupt and closed.

The psalmist gives us a promise, no doubt forged from experience (v.5): “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” Indeed, Haggai Institute bought over the hotel—finally a dream realised, land and buildings all ready for our use. The toil of sowing, the watering with tears, and the agony of waiting, finally bore fruit in laughter and joy.

Exile and return, sowing and reaping, tears and laughter—these mark different seasons of our lives. None of us like languishing in exile, thrust into strange territory, away from our comfort zone. Neither do we relish labour with only tears as reward. But wait, the turn of the road will come, the return and restoration—then we will awake to find our dream come true. We will laugh again and shout for joy.

From tears to laughter, a dream come true