I sat on my porch with my Bible in my lap and a hot mug of steamy coffee in my hand. Early morning is my favorite time of day. Just me, Jesus, and a smattering of birds.
I closed my Bible and looked out across the backyard. My eyes landed on a rounded mound of fur nestled in the grass under the willow tree.
I got up and moved in for a closer look. My heart sank as I discovered what appeared to be a curled-up baby fawn lying lifeless in the grass. Probably the same fawn my neighbor had seen nursing from its mom the day before. My heart broke. I understand the circle of life, but still. A baby fawn lay dead in my yard. Most likely the target of the coyote I’d seen the week before.
I couldn’t get close enough to see the wound. Sometimes that is the way of things.
I did get close enough to see the sunlight passing through the velum-like ears, the intricate spots on its back, and the Bambi-like eyelashes resting on a perfectly shaped snout. I would have to wait until Steve got home to take care of the situation. I just couldn’t.
All morning long my mind returned to the lifeless form lying in the sun. Hours passed. At noon I looked out of the window and the still fawn remained unmoved. Untouched. Undisturbed. I couldn’t stand it. I had to know the cause of death. So I mustered up my courage and made my way to the fawn. Three feet away. Stop. No signs of an attack. I inched closer.
Finally, I knelt down by the beautifully crafted creature, admiring God’s handiwork. But I couldn’t see what had killed it.
“What happened to you, little deer?” I whispered.
Suddenly, the fawn’s head popped up! Startled eyes stared at me…wide-eyed. Me like a deer caught in the headlights. The fawn simply caught. I fell back on my haunches! And time stood still for a moment as we stared at each other in disbelief! Just a hand’s-breadth away.
Finally, the fawn sprang to its feet, wobbled a bit, and scampered off like a drunken sailor. I sat in the grass and laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
So the fawn wasn’t dead after all. It had simply found a bit of grass and fallen asleep…until almost noon. And where is your mother? I wondered.
I thought of the paraphrased verse from The Message: I’m ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe. Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune: “Wake up, soul! Wake up, harp! Wake up, lute! Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!” (Psalm 57:7-8 MSG)
After my heart stopped pounding in my chest, God whispered, Sometimes things are dead, and sometimes they just need to be woken up.
I pondered those words for the rest of the day. I called a friend who is struggling in her marriage—in a very bad way. The sort of way that leaves you wondering if it will survive. I told her the story. I told her God’s message.
Sometimes things are dead, and sometimes they just need to be woken up.
Sometimes a marriage is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Sometimes a friendship is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Sometimes a dream is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
I think we are much too quick to write the death certificate for our hopes and dreams. So here’s my word for you and for me today.
For my friend struggling in her marriage…
For my friend who cries for her adult son who walked away from God…
For my friend who longs to cuddle up with a good husband rather than a good book…
Don’t assume the dream is dead. Sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Dear Lord, Wake me up! Stir my heart. It’s not over till You say it’s over. I commit to continue to pray for what others deem as a lost cause, for I know that there is never a lost cause when it comes to Your power to save, to deliver, to redeem, to rebuild. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Is there one dream in your life that needs to be woken up? Is so, what is it? Let’s share.
Digging Deeper
Are you ready to dream again? God’s ready when you are! It’s time to let go of everything that holds you back, move forward with the promises of God, and live bold in the adventure of faith! It’s time to wake up those dreams and live again! Take Hold of the Faith You 
Long For: Let Go, Move Forward, Live Bold
takes you through the steps and will show you how! Wake up those dreams and experience the mountain moving faith you’ve always wanted. This book comes with a Bible study guide in the back that is perfect for women’s Bible Study groups!
Comments 69
Praise be to GOD! IN JESUS’ name amen.
Thank you Sharon for this very important realization. May GOD bless you in all you do in JESUS’ name amen.
Loved the story. Just went through a nasty divorce last year. Working on loving me right now.. Have not given up on hopes of finding true love for me one day. Just waiting for the right person and time. God knows and he’s working behind the scenes 🙏..
Thank You Sharon thank you for the truth how God loves so much all we have to do remember our identification in God who we are in God Philippians 4:13.
Thank you for fresh new hope to not give up on my prayer request…I need God’s wisdom on tending to my 92 yr old mom’s needs when it seems nothing is going right. God will provide!!
Glory be to God for those wonderful memories and messages.
I pray the reconciliation with my wonderful son is not dead it just needs to be woken up. Life’s difficulties have caused him to give up hope. I pray that he finds our Lord again. Until he does, I am standing in the gap.
Please pray for me. I have struggled my entire life but know God is with me and for me and not against me.
May God the Father ease your struggles. May the Holy Spirit help you to learn the meaning of your struggles. May Jesus our Savior walk with you through the fire untouched and struggle-free on the other side.
Loved this!
I thank you for this article when a dream dies. I have two that I feel like their dead, but this along with the scripture in Mark 5 gives me hope.
The messages God gives you are always timely!!
This was an endearing devotion. Thank you for sharing this experience, Sharon. Thank you for affirming that what we sometimes think is over….perhaps just needs watering, encouragement, an ‘I’’m sorry’, listening, or serious communication. Thank you, God, that you are the final word on life AND death.
This devotion spoke to me. Thank you!
I am married. I want a companion. He is barely a roommate. Thirty six long years…is it time to move on or will God wake him up?
Plan a weekend get away. Share your thoughts with him. Maybe God will use this to wake him up.
I’m so glad that fawn was alive and what a beautiful reminder that we should not pronounce things dead because God is always working!
My marriage appears dead. Its so encouraging to read this message. Sometimes things are dead. Sometimes they just need to be woken up. I am not in control of my spouses choices but God Almighty is always working for my good.
I am growing closer to God and I am learning to trust Him more. A word to me in the last few years of living alone in our home after my husband moved out is this: Mark 5:41. Talitha Koum! Little girl, get up! She was not dead – only sleeping.
I am waking up to my dreams and God’s calling. I’m not sure my marriage will be restored but God is restoring the years the locusts have eaten in my life. I can be thankful in all things because His grace is sufficient. May our hurts draw us closer to our Creator and unify us in seeking and serving Him.
I really enjoyed reading this morning about the baby fawn, I laughed when you both realized that the other was there. I also relate to the dreams that are dormant. I’m an empty nester and I’ve had a dream for a long time, since in my 20s. I’m in my 50s now and the dream remains just that a dream. Would appreciate prayers for directions on what to do in future.
Lord Jesus, you know what Angela’s long time dream has been. I ask you, Lord, to speak through the Holy Spirit to lead Angela in the direction you want her to go. If her dream is your will for her, make the path straight and smooth. If it is not the right time, show her how to wait a little longer. In your name, Jesus, Amen.
Angela, I hope that it is time for your dream to come true. Pray, be still, listen for him to tell you what’s next. Perhaps you could research what a first step would look like for you, in preparation for his answer. Whatever happens, it will be great.
May God grant you the Wisdom opportunity to move forward with the needed resources and counsel to become the greatest successful version of yourself handcrafted by God for His Majesty. Amen
Much Love 💕 Always And Blessings For Your Day
This article was very uplifting and encouraging I pray our Father continue to speak to you. because iron sharpens iron.
My dream is to be married and have kids. I used to say that I don’t need to be married but to be single. I had suitors but I would turn them down. Then as I go to restaurants I see old and young couples enjoying their time together. I would walk from my apartment to the University Campus, I really noticed how alone and lonely I am. Then when I have a flat tire I would ask my male neighbors or complete male strangers to fix my tire. I realized then that I need a companion/partner/boyfriend/husband, whatever you call the opposite sex. I threw myself in an unhealthy relationship with this one guy. I was head over heels in love with him. He lied to me, asked me for money (I loaned money and gave to him…he never paid me back..every payday i would wire money to him) he cheated on me, and fooled me in promising that he would come back for me. Then he went to Europe after lying to me that he was on his way to be with me. I was distraught but then he would write me saying he misses me and that he would come back to me. It’s now been 5 years we’re in a long distance relationship. We had an argument and he blocked me on WhatsApp. Then and there I realized I’m such a fool. Everyone’s been telling me forget about him, he’s no good. After some thinking I realized that I deserve someone who would love me and respect me. My dream of being married to a godly man surfaced now that I’m single. I’m praying that i would find someone that would love me and respect me. Someone who would be a gentleman. I am hoping that God would answer my prayer.
My prayer is that one day, my grandson will be able to have the much-needed surgery to replace a valve in his heart that had to be removed because of an infection. He has been turned down for disability and Medicare and the hospital wants more money than we can afford to do the surgery. He can’t work because he is short winded, has no insurance has 3 kids. he is living with me, but I see him getting weaker each day. Please help me pray, that God will make a way. The kids lost their mother in 2018, please God they need their father. We know you have a plan, and today I am waking this dream up. Father it is all in your hands.
Dearest Bessie, my heart breaks for you. Have you tried GoFundMe? People can be amazingly generous sometimes. It’s worth a try!
God bless you and your son. May He bring everything you need.
Come Holy spirit! Heal the heart of this child of God. Make new valve, clear the infection, restore breathing, blood flow. Heart functions in rhythm. Send this grandson to a Doctor to take the case. No money involved. Bless all the medical personnel that will be on this case. Speak new life as you raise up this child for your Glory. Thank you God that you hear Grandmother’s prayer.🙏 Amen
Prayers for your grandson and family🙏🙏🙏
My marriage needs to be woken up! Our Anniversary is July 24th, twill be 53 years.. On our 45th my crying husband told me he loved a girl he played music with. I felt crushed and so ignorant not picking up on this situation. Well, after my suicide attempt and my council. We are still together but the loving feelings are not being shown to each other. I believe God was telling me that my husband was not god! I am no longer worshipping him. I would like to feel that he and I love each other.
This really hit home for ma as my husband is dealing with issues of cognitive, delayed to come out. He thinks it but it takes a minute. But God Is in full control. I pray he too stir up my husband’s brain to function as it once did or better. Only God can do it! In Jesus name I pray, Amen
I am in the same situation. Praying for you too that God would reveal His will.
This really hit home for me as my husband is dealing with issues of cognitive, delayed speech to come out. He thinks it but it takes a minute. But God Is in full control. I pray he too stir up my husband’s brain to function as it once did or even better. Only God can do it! In Jesus name I pray, Amen
My marriage – I want it to be woken up! I am so very tired and overwhelmed.
I am that friend who wants to cuddle with a godly husband rather than a good book. I see there are others with the same dream. I am in GOD’S waiting room. Thank you Sharon.
Thank you for your messages. This one really hit home. Both of my children are living gay lives. My daughter got engaged to her lesbian girlfriend last week. My son found his friend in his apartment on Monday dead from a fentanyl overdose. My sister and brother don’t speak to me anymore because I pray for my children to live Godly lives and feel this isn’t it. I hope my dreams aren’t dead. Thank you for the prayer.
I love your posts! I couldn’t wait to hear the ending of that deer fawn. Thankfully it had a good ending not just for the fawn but for us as well. Thank you for the reminder its not over till God says so. Many Blessing to you!
The dream that needs to be woken up is for my sister who cries for her adult sons who walked away from God!!!
Bringing both my mom and son back to church. I pray every day for both of them. I know my faith in Christ will help lead them back. My love for God and the warmth of his love, grace and mercy help keep my prayers going and give me strength.
Looking for something to wake ME up this morning…
Awesome message . . .
Blessings,
Gail Sicard
New Hampshire
I have wanted to be a grandmother whose son & daughter-in-law walk with Jesus.. I am still struggling with this dream. But, I have an inkling of hope. My son finally proposed to his longtime girlfriend. He called me last night because his fiance is in pain, possibly from sciatica. We discussed pain management & so forth. [I’m a retired Ortho RN.] As we ended the conversation I told him I will continue to pray for her. He didn’t object — that’s progress.
Thank you for sharing
I’m the mom who cries daily, often many times each day for our adult daughter (detested by divorce) to. Return to her vibrant amazing walk with Jesus!!! To teach her girls Jesus love ….
My heart hoped for the outcome you had with the “dead” fawn. I had a similar experience, scanning the beautiful Albemarle Sound off my top deck where we’ve lived for 35 years. Not true “beach bums,” but part of an amazing community of locals on the beautiful Outer Banks of NC. As my eyes moved across the land and properties of my neighbors, they stopped on what appeared to be a dog curled up in the shade and tall grass of a neighbor who was out of town. I strained to see if it was injured, alive…..or…. I took a picture with my phone and enlarged it realizing it wasn’t a dog, but unsure of its true identity and whether it was resting or far worse. I finally got binoculars and was amazed at the fawn’s true identity with those beautiful little spots and perky ears. After researching (googling) fawns, I learned they don’t stand and walk right after birth, but rest for a period of time, while the mother goes not far away for nourishment. I realized at 73 years old, God had led me to learn more about the beauty of the deer community that was growing on Colington Island, which is accessed by 2 smaller bridges off the main OBX islands accessed by 2 very long bridges. My little island was nurturing this deer community and I still had much to learn. I loved your perspective in this message today. I will now apply it to the things I’ve thought were dead as well.
My daughter’s husband is determined to leave her. This message today has given me hope again. I commit to continue to pray for what others deem a lost cause!! God has not stopped being God, He neither slumbers nor sleeps, and His arm is not shortened! Bless you, Sister, and all on your team in ministry.
Sharon, this message was so timely. I’ve been struggling about a dream that looks all but dead. I’ve given it to God and if He arouses it and reawakens it then it will be glorious and even more than I dreamed. I’ll continue praying knowing His timing is perfect and if not this dream something far better than imagined.
Thank you Sharon for this beautiful message today! Waiting for the broken dream of my oldest son being woken up from a drug addiction of 4o yrs. That he would surrender all to Jesus, and repair the relationships with his loved ones. He has run away from God for to many yrs.
I know everything is in God’s timing, but it hurts this Mama’s heart to see it. I raised him in church and he has been baptized, but feels like God has abandoned him. Praying 🙏 for a breakthrough dear Jesus.
Blessings to all my sisters in Christ!
Debbie L
Not sure if God’s plan is to reunite me with my ex-husband. Or if God has a godly and committed man for me in the future. I’m not in a rush, but I do miss having that special man to walk life with. I miss that feeling of being wanted just because of being me.
Thank you for this message. My son Michael has schizophrenia and is an alcoholic also. He’s so kind but so lonely. I will continue to pray !
Gm Sharon🌞 and thank u so much for this right now needed devotional!! As I’m doing a 3-day fast, my reason is to get back up and dream again. I’m studying the Book of Nehemiah and reading that no matter what was going on, what the officials said, how they did everything to convince him….He never came down from rebuilding the Wall!! My confession is I came down, 😭 I allowed circumstances to hinder me, I took my focus off of Jesus and fixated them on my problems. I felt my dreams had DIED!! But now after reading your story this morning, I am encouraged to believe my dreams haven’t died, they just needed to be “woken up!!” I have HOPE, I have FAITH and I have PURPOSE again!! I’m gonna take these nuggets and add them to Nehemiah and …… REBUILD the good work God begun in me to completion!! (highlights from Phil I:6) Thank u so very much and may God continue to bless u greatly in all that u do for His Kingdom!!🗣️💕🙌🏾
We DO serve an AMAZING GOD!!! This devotion is perfect timing for me and many others. Thank you for sharing. I love the scripture reference from Psalm 57. It is just beautiful and comes alive, straight to my heart! Prayers for all!!!
Praying for reconciliation with my Son.
Thank you Sharon. My dream is for God to send me a man who loves God to unite with in marriage. I am 66 yrs old and never married. I have never given up on this dream but sometimes it needs a little refreshing. Thank you for the refreshing..
Thank you for this message. After struggling in an unhappy marriage for 16 years, we separated. We attempted several times to reconcile without success. I wondered why it turned out this way after being so sure this marriage was part of God’s plan for me. Just this past weekend after months of wondering why, He revealed to me “because you deserve better, my child.” God has woke me up to continue to draw closer to Him while He prepares me for the next journey in His plan for me.
I needed this….
Hi,
My marriage of almost 37 years is struggling Infact I don’t know where my husband is and he doesn’t communicate and when he has communicated he says he wants to reconcile but I don’t know what to believe m. It’s all just words. Please pray with me. I have asked God for some sort of answers or start of reconciliation by July 31 of this year. This has been going on for agile now. Thanks!
Thanks Sharon for that right now needed message. My Life seems to at a standstill. All my hopes and dreams seems to be lost but I believe they just need to be woken up. I have to trust God but I pray that he helps my unbelief. God has the last say so. At 74, close to 75 it’s not too late for me. God bless everyone.
Sharon, this is going to be long. I’ll try to make as short as possible. Just before I read this devotional. I was talking with the Lord about my dream. Telling him that it was too late for me. Then I read this. I’m sobbing here like a baby. I see this as a confirmation to not give up. You see since I was a little girl I love to sing. I believe I have a good voice. Some have said it to me. I’ve been part of worship teams and choirs. I did not have the proper training so I do struggle in some things. My Dad was a band singer and plays a couple of instruments. I know I got my musical artistic side from him. The problem is that at the tender age of me being 3 he left us and I never had a relationship with him. But the few times as a child that I did see him he was my number one fan. Always encouraging me. Anyway when I got saved back in 1988 that’s all I wanted to do. Sing. Not sure when along the way it started or how it started but I started to feel insecure about my singing. Then because the enemy does not sleep, even in the worship team I encountered people instead of helping me laughing or critiquing when I was not able to hit a note or harmonized. Let me tell you I fought with all that was in me, because I know that this is what I am called to do, but the years have passed. The insecurities got worse and I gave up. It’s been more than 17 years that I have not been part of a worship team or choir. I have given up. But every Sunday when I’m at church that’s where I see myself. This desire does not go away. I’m now 62 years of age and I think I’m done but yet I don’t want to die with regrets of what could’ve been. These past couple of days I was looking into taking some vocal classes so that they can tell me if I’m good enough or not to sing. But even that gives me insecurity. Reading this devotional today confirmed me that I have to awaken my dream. ❤️
Beautiful devotion! As I read each persons comment or request I ask who am I to complain when our whole world is hurting and it seems everyone of us are in need. Oh how I need Jesus in my life in my home, in my marriage, in my children’s life. How I want to be a true example of what God wants me to be. I just want to be ready when God calls me home. I can lay my burden, my prayers at his feet but I can’t make change in a person if they don’t want to change. God already knows each and every need, he sees the hurting, the broken, the loneliness, the unsaved. I’ve seen many prayers answered but it wasn’t at my timing or someone elses timing it was Gods timing. He knows our every longing, every thought, every hair on our head. When my mind wonders off about my marriage I cry out of my precious savior we need you. When a sister or brother gets upset over things I cry out, when I feel I can’t hear another bad health diagnosis I cry out. He has never not once left me or given up on me. Lots of dreams have come and gone, it does not mean it will never come to truth it just means be patient, I am working on your behalf. Hang on a little while longer sisters, God is always faithful. One of these days there will be no more suffering, loneliness, sadness, no troubles and pain. When we all get to heaven we will sing and rejoice in victory.
This devotion hit me right between the eyes. I’ve been not working away from home for 5 years, to help on the family farm. I need to go back to work and wonder if I can do it. I have other dreams for my home and marriage that seem impossible. I doubt my own ability to do anything of substance. I pray God will wake me like that little fawn! Thank you for this reading.
Wow! This was an eye-opener. Thank you,Sharon 😊
What a wonderful day to start out with this story and just read the stories about what people are going through hurts my heart, and realize I don’t need to be complaining when others are going through storms in their lives. Just want everyone to know that it’s not over until God says is over praying for all.
Thanks Sharon,
My dream, as one who recently celebrated my 49th birthday, is to get married even when others consider it dead. Dear God, awaken this dream from slumber, You who never sleeps, in Jesus’ name, Amen
I am so blessed with the story that you shared. I have a son who walked away from God. As I read your st0ry, I started to hope that it is not yet over for my son. God has a good plan for him. Please help me pray for my son to have faith in God again.
Sharon, thank you for this story. I have given up on my dreams. I am in a relationship but so alone. I work 12 hours a day and come home to someone who seems to not care if I’m here or not. I have prayed for direction and guidance and we have talked about what is wrong in our relationship. Nothing really changes. I love him with all my heart but it seems it’s one sided. I need God to give me direction. I am tired of no communication, affection and being so lonely. My self confidence is gone. Maybe God is giving me a sign an I’m to hard headed to see it. Your story gave me much hope and I do realize it will work out as God has planned. Thank you.
I would like prayer for our only daughter who has admitted to same sex attraction and it is breaking our hearts.. please pray for Godly wisdom for my husband and I… we are beyond devastated..
Thanks Sharon great story.
God is good and he can be trusted. This story resonates greatly with the stage I am presently in. I had a dream, God is working on it and it is beginning to manifest, the enemy is trying to distract and let me give up. This story has really encouraged me. Dream was dead, woken up but like the fawn it needs to move, be stirred up, stand and move to achieve God’s purpose.
I will not give up on my dream, I have started and trust God for it’s purpose to be fulfilled.
Thank you so much for this message.
Thanks Sharon,
I have had a dream for over 10 years that my son and daughter would talk to each other again. But that dream has never come true. I know I can’t do anything but pray. I’m guessing that when my husband dies which is coming up soon that Maybe they will. My daughter said she wouldn’t. I just have to let it go and put it in God’s hands.
Thanks for the reminder!
God Bless you
I saw God do a miraculous redemption of my marriage after my infidelity. We began to rebuild a new and better marriage 2.0. I have been doing recovery work on myself for 4 years since it all came to light to understand and not go back to that place. My husband has gone backwards and is treating me like I deserved 5 years ago. I feel so heartbroken for what I saw was a new and better marriage slipping away and I don’t understand why except for the work of Satan trying to destroy us again. I am waiting patiently for God to awaken things again. He did it once, I have faith it can happen again.
In 1999, at age 64, my seemly healthy husband, had a massive stroke, which resulted in non-functioning of his left side/extremities. Our dreams of our retirement years were changed forever, replaced with stroke and caregiving challenges. The past 5 years he has been a bedridden invalid and now at almost 90 and after cancer treatment, he is receiving in-home hospice care. Instead of retirement dreams, our finances are used to have outside caregiver help as I am no longer able to handle myself. Often, I am sad to think of all we have lost and questioned God’s plan for our life. My faith reminds me of God’s love and mercy and how he has and is providing all our needs, and blessed with loving children/family. I have found contentment in where we are in our 70 years married. I still have my times, but thanks to God and I send prayers for all the needs in the+comments posted here.🙏🏻
Thank you for all your encouraging words, backed by scripture. Our Ladies Bible Study used your book Take Hold Of the Faith You Long For last year. As we start up again in Sept. we will be using your book Becoming a Woman Who lListens to God. We are looking forward to this study and pray that God will use it to encourage us.
God bless and keep you.
Hello Sharon,
This is so inspiring and insightful. Keep the dream alive and keep inner passion alive! Always room to dig deeper. Always stay encouraged and see our awakenings enlightened.
Thank you again Sharon.