Sometimes your dreams can be intimidating or make other people uncomfortable. “Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.” (Genesis 37:5) When people are intimidated by or uncomfortable with your dreams, they can become dream killers. They poke holes in every idea that you tell them and point out the logical reasons why you shouldn’t do what God has given you a dream or vision to do. This is why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who inspire you to go after God’s plan and purpose for your life. We have to become adept at understanding the reasons and seasons for people coming into our lives. In my experience, there are really only a few core reasons:
Reason #1: They have come to teach us something about ourselves (exposing a strength or weakness that God wants to make us aware of)
Reason #2: They have come to distract us. Don’t forget to “Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (Amplified) These people are full of strife. They steal the one thing that you can’t replace, TIME. They are always looking to have a good time, as a distraction from their empty lives. They’re wandering in a wilderness and you don’t have 40 years to roam with them.
Reason #3: They have come to participate in or propel us toward our God-given destiny. These people are the mentors, teachers, investors, and prayer partners that we need along our journey. These people encourage us to be who God has called us to be, and nothing less.
The faster that we determine the reason for the people entering our lives, the easier it will be to make our dreams a reality.
Question: Who are the hope-filled and faith-filled people in your life? If you aren’t connected to these kind of people, ask God to surround you with people who will encourage you to stay strong in faith and hope when times get tough.
3 Times the Faith 