CHEMICAL DREAMS
As a young boy, Ben dreamed of serving God as a doctor. But living in a ghetto, raised by a single mom, getting horrible grades, his aspirations were as distant as the moon. It turned out he needed glasses. Once that was solved, his academics soared, and he eventually earned a scholarship to Yale. But that’s when his struggles really began.
In a 2015 interview Ben said, "I was failing chemistry; that wasn't cool at all. And you can't be a pre-med and fail in chemistry.” The night before his chemistry final, he crammed until his eyelids closed. Collapsing into bed, he prayed for God to “perform some kind of miracle and help me to pass this exam.” In his sleep, he experienced a vivid dream. A nebulous figure was writing chemistry problems and answers on a chalkboard. He made note of the answers.
"When I went to take the test the next morning, it was like The Twilight Zone," he said. The problems staring back at him were the exact ones from his dream. He aced the test, graduated from med school, became a renowned surgeon, and today Ben Carson serves as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for the United States.
Circumstances may not be as dramatic for us, but God works in each of our lives, fulfilling the desires He places on our hearts. Philippians 1:6 promises, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” In 4:19, Paul adds, “And my God will meet all your needs...” Of course we do the footwork, but when God gives us a dream, He is responsible to make it happen.
Think about our current times. “Uncertainty” seems to be the watchword of the day. After COVID, racial unrest, weird weather, and poisonous politics, we wonder, “Where’s this going to end? What’s next? Will we survive unscathed?” No one knows the specifics, but God promises throughout scripture to supply our needs. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psa.23:1). “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psa.34:10). The list is virtually endless.
God will meet our needs, just as he did with Ben Carson – whether we’re struggling to make ends meet, or struggling to pass a chemistry final. Let’s open our hearts to receive His joy, lift our heads, and anticipate the surprises He has waiting for us.
Principle: When God gives us a dream, He is responsible to make it happen
Promise: God will supply all our needs.
Ponder:
What dreams do I sense God is calling me to fulfill?
What barriers stand in the way that I can anticipate God removing?
Prayer: Loving Father, thank you for the way you work in my life and those around me to bring your will to fruition.
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Psalm 23.
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotional.