What Christians Want To Know » What To Do When Your Dreams Fail: 7 Bible Based Tips

Most people believe that by working really hard, they will succeed in life and all their dreams will come true. However, life doesn’t always turn out like we dreamed. In spite of our best efforts: marriages fail, companies scale down, the economy drops, children become prodigals, sickness and disease take lives or stifle productivity, etc…

Being a believer in Christ Jesus doesn’t wrap you in a bubble so that the pains and tragedies of life can’t touch you or your family. However being a Christian guarantees a life that is marked by the presence and hand of God in everything that you do, everything that you are exposed to, and every dream that has failed.

Meditate on the following Bible based tips to find your peace and direction when your dreams fail.

Tip #1) Surrender your failed dreams to God

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV).

It’s a crushing experience to lose your heart’s desire. This can be the loneliest period of time because no one can really feel your pain unless they’ve gone through a heartbreaking loss. Yet there’s nothing that can happen to you unless God allows it. Even in this, God is in control and you can have hope in the midst of it. In your mind, hold up your failed dream to God and place it at the foot of the cross—trusting in Him to replenish your brokenness.

Related reading on trials: Examples of Trials in the Bible: 7 Biblical Stories ^[1]

Tip #2) Allow yourself time to grieve

“There is a time for everything…a time to weep” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4).

Some people attempt to shrug off their disappointment and pretend that it never happened. However, some unforeseen event can trigger deep sadness and weariness that will eventually stop them in their tracks. It’s healthy to cry, to mourn, or to shout out if necessary, “Life’s unfair!” Jesus cried and He was God in the flesh. He allowed His human emotions to pour out in the form of tears and grief. There’s refreshing power from the Spirit of God when we allow our vulnerability to be exposed.

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In our human frailness, we run out of dreams. However, our God never stops provoking our hearts towards purpose. He transfers to each of His children a spiritual drive towards finishing the race.

Tip #3) Communicate with close family and friends

“That I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed” (Romans 15:32).

Most of your close family and friends will have very little to say. Many times they may feel overwhelmed at your distress and their inability to make everything alright for you. This isn’t necessarily a time for them to offer countless words of advice that you may not be able to contain anyway. Rather, wise friends close their mouths to open their ears and hearts listening to the painful outpouring of your heart in a safe place. This is the body of Christ in motion.

Tip #4) Reassess your priorities

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).

Our dreams may have come to an end for many reasons. Perhaps we were overly compulsive and irresponsible. Or perhaps we were at the mercy of other people’s bad decisions. Whatever the reason, there needs to be a time of solitude and reflection in the presence of God. Get away from the busyness and distractions of life to spend time talking and listening to God’s direction. His ways aren’t our ways and we must be willing to submit to His plan for our lives even though we don’t clearly see the way.

Related reading: Bible Verses About God’s Will: 20 Guiding Quotes ^[3]

Tip #5) Seek out new dreams from God

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out” (Proverbs 20:5).

In our human frailness, we run out of dreams. However, our God never stops provoking our hearts towards purpose. He transfers to each of His children a spiritual drive towards finishing the race. Many of us want to give up after one or two laps around our faith journey. Yet those who strive in the belief that God is able—there’s great reward and satisfaction of a job well completed in Christ. We were made to survive hardship, conquer doubt, and rise up in the name of Jesus.

Tip #6) Discipline your thoughts to align with faith in God and His Word

“To be made new in the attitude of your minds” (Ephesians 4:23).

Sometimes when our dreams are shattered, we don’t know how to think anymore. We’ve trained our minds in such a way that it seems impossible to go about life any differently. However, as believers, we have the power of God ^[4] to retrain our thoughts according to the promises of His word rather than following the edicts of our human minds. Search the scriptures diligently to find the passage that speaks most to your situation—memorize it until you can comfortably recite it with ease and your mind will eventually comply.

Tip #7) Embrace your God-given new dreams

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25).

When our dreams are lost, it’s difficult to imagine that we will ever attain our desired joy. Discouragement is one of the most deadly of attacks from the devil. He wants our eyes focused on what we’ve lost instead of what we have to gain in Christ. God wants our undivided attention and commitment solely on Him. For it is only through Him that we can attain greater pleasure and satisfaction for new dreams.

Dream Again!

There’s hope for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ to live a fulfilling, rich life full of destiny and purpose. It doesn’t always come easy, but it’s worth the journey of faith that will end with much reward for those who never give up.