Pursuing Your Dream Despite Opposition
"They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer.’" - Genesis 37:18-19
When God makes your dreams clear and calls you to a specific purpose, it’s natural to feel excited and motivated. You might assume everyone around you will share that excitement and cheer you on. But as the story of Joseph and his brothers reminds us, not everyone will be happy for you when God reveals His plans for your life.
Joseph was given a dream from God, one that showed him a future where he would rise to a place of great influence. But when he shared that dream with his brothers, they didn’t celebrate.
In fact, they were so jealous and angry that they plotted to get rid of him. Instead of seeing the potential in Joseph’s dream, they saw a threat. His brothers’ opposition was fierce, and they did everything in their power to sabotage his future.
The truth is, when God calls you to something big, not everyone will be happy about it. Some people may doubt your dream, question your motives, or even hope for your failure. You might face jealousy, criticism, and resistance, sometimes from people you least expect. But don’t let that stop you from pursuing what God has called you to do.
Just because others don’t understand or support your dream doesn’t mean it’s not from God. Joseph’s journey was filled with setbacks—betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment. But none of those obstacles could stop God’s plan for his life. In the end, Joseph’s dream was fulfilled, and he was used by God to save many lives, including the very brothers who tried to destroy him.
You, too, might face people who try to oppose you, question your purpose, or undermine your efforts. But remember, if God has given you a dream, it’s not dependent on the approval or validation of others. What matters is your obedience to God and your determination to follow the path He’s laid out for you. Don’t let the voices of doubt or jealousy distract you from the work God has called you to do.
There will always be people who don’t believe in your dream. But just as Joseph’s story shows, no amount of opposition can stop what God has planned for your life. Stay faithful, trust in His timing, and keep moving forward, no matter what others say or do. God’s purpose for you will prevail, and when it does, even those who doubted you will see His hand at work.
When God makes your dreams clear and calls you to a specific purpose, it’s natural to feel excited and motivated. You might assume everyone around you will share that excitement and cheer you on. But as the story of Joseph and his brothers reminds us, not everyone will be happy for you when God reveals His plans for your life.
Joseph was given a dream from God, one that showed him a future where he would rise to a place of great influence. But when he shared that dream with his brothers, they didn’t celebrate.
In fact, they were so jealous and angry that they plotted to get rid of him. Instead of seeing the potential in Joseph’s dream, they saw a threat. His brothers’ opposition was fierce, and they did everything in their power to sabotage his future.
The truth is, when God calls you to something big, not everyone will be happy about it. Some people may doubt your dream, question your motives, or even hope for your failure. You might face jealousy, criticism, and resistance, sometimes from people you least expect. But don’t let that stop you from pursuing what God has called you to do.
Just because others don’t understand or support your dream doesn’t mean it’s not from God. Joseph’s journey was filled with setbacks—betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment. But none of those obstacles could stop God’s plan for his life. In the end, Joseph’s dream was fulfilled, and he was used by God to save many lives, including the very brothers who tried to destroy him.
You, too, might face people who try to oppose you, question your purpose, or undermine your efforts. But remember, if God has given you a dream, it’s not dependent on the approval or validation of others. What matters is your obedience to God and your determination to follow the path He’s laid out for you. Don’t let the voices of doubt or jealousy distract you from the work God has called you to do.
There will always be people who don’t believe in your dream. But just as Joseph’s story shows, no amount of opposition can stop what God has planned for your life. Stay faithful, trust in His timing, and keep moving forward, no matter what others say or do. God’s purpose for you will prevail, and when it does, even those who doubted you will see His hand at work.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When Prayer Feels Like Bad ReceptionTeach Us to Pray AgainRelationship Over RequestsPulled Toward HeavenWhen God Says No, Slow, Grow, or GoPray Bigger PrayersPray Without Ceasing in Real LifeWhen Persistence Feels PointlessWhen Darkness Reacts to LightWorship as WarfareChains Fall in His PresenceNot Who I Used to BeWhen God Reveals the BattleNo Fear in the Presence of PowerSet Free to WorshipVictory Is NowWhat You Love, You ShareGod Has a Brag Book, and You’re in ItThe Moment You Missed and the Mercy That RemainsBetter Today Than YesterdayAvailability Over AbilityThe Search for SignificanceWhen God Sets Up the MomentExplain the Hope Within YouThe Gospel Starts Where People AreSalt Has to Leave the ShakerWhat Defines You Determines YouYou’re Richer Than You RealizeThe Quiet Sin No One ConfessesYou Can’t Serve Two MastersThe Token That Stopped Spending
February
A Prophetic EarLearning the Voice You Hear Every DayAdopted, Not ToleratedThe Same Spirit Lives in YouWhy Jesus Chose DependenceExisting Versus Truly LivingWhen God Interrupts Your RoutineConviction Calls You Up, Not OutHe Who Gets the Son Gets It AllLet the Word Get in YouThe Book You Never FinishWhen You Finally Taste What’s BetterGod Is Speaking Every Time You Open the BibleFreedom Comes from Knowing the TruthThe Holy Spirit Works with What You StoreYou Might Be the Only Bible They ReadThe Word You Read Today Might Be for Someone Else TomorrowA Love Letter, Not a Rule BookFaith That Moves Without ProofWhen Desperation Strips Away DignityTrusting God in the SmokeThe Miracle Was Not Just for YouWhen Familiarity Kills ExpectationThe Timing of God Is Never AccidentalA Savior Who Shows Up to Ordinary MomentsWhen the Wine Runs OutTake It to Jesus FirstDo Whatever He Tells You to Do
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God

1 Comment
I remember Pastor Emmitt sharing his dream to start CBC - patterned after Matthew 9:35-38. Then, his vision in 2015 after his sabbatical - to see a world-wide growth of CBC over the next 25 years (from 1 House to 1,000 rooms as part of a Mansion).
n
nWell, almost 10 years later, this dream is being fulfilled as our membership grows and this vision has begun to take root!!! Looking forward to serving and using my talents for his glory as he calls us to complete CBC Vision 2040. Then, imagine from 1,000 to 1,000,000 with many Mansions. ONE FAMILY, United. Let's STAY READY and KEEP GOING.
n
n"As One is in Unity, so is Unity in Community, so WE BECOME ONE!!!" John 17 and Acts 4 in Action.