The Foundation of The American Dream

The American Dream is one of the most familiar phrases used to describe the blessings of life in this country. While the idea of dreaming for a better future has long been woven into the fabric of our nation, the phrase became widely known after James Truslow Adams used it in his 1931 book, The Epic of America, to describe the hope of America.

Hope is woven into the DNA of this nation. From the first settlers to today’s entrepreneurs to the parents of a newborn baby, Americans have long lived with the hope of a better future. No other nation has quite the same history or continues to live with the same aspirations. The American Dream remains the envy of many around the world because, in America, we believe anything is possible—even for someone from humble beginnings—thanks to the freedoms we hold so dear.

I wonder, though, if our nation is losing its capacity to dream. Some Americans no longer dream because they are content with life as it is. Others have experienced hardships and are afraid of what the future may hold. One major reason Americans are not dreaming is that they have drifted away from the foundations of healthy dreaming.

Have you lost the capacity to dream? God wants us to hope and dream of a better future—one blessed by Him. In the Bible, no one is a greater dreamer than Joseph, whose story we read in the closing chapters of Genesis. This Sunday, we will consider his life and the framework that enabled him to dream remarkable dreams and understand the dreams of others. Join me Sunday as we look at the biblical foundation for healthy, life-giving, and hopeful dreams.