The Dream That Shook Me Awake: A Lesson on Delay, Leadership, and Faith
When hesitation costs more than we can bear
Last night, I woke up with my heart pounding, in cold sweat.
I hadnt felt this way in a loooooong time - it felt so real that for a moment I couldn’t tell if it had actually happened or if it was just a dream.
In the dream, my son fell backwards and broke his left ulna and radius, right in the middle of his forearm.
The first wave of emotion that hit me was relief.
“Thank You, God, that it wasn’t his neck. Thank You that he’s alive.”
But then came panic.
I had to quickly choose a hand surgeon. Two names came to mind. Both good, both capable. But instead of making a clear and immediate decision, I hesitated. I went back and forth, overthinking, weighing options… and while I delayed, my son’s injured hand turned gangrenous.
By the time I finally chose a surgeon, it was too late.
The surgeon looked at me with sorrow and said the words no father ever wants to hear:
“I’m sorry, we’ll have to amputate.”
In that instant, my heart shattered.
The horror of losing my son’s hand because I failed to act decisively was so overwhelming that I jolted awake, my heart racing, my chest tight, unable to shake the image.
When I was shocked awake, I was glad, truly glad, it was just a dream.
But there are lessons to be learnt.
Lessons in the Darkness
Lying there in the early hours of the morning, I replayed the dream in my head.
Why did I dream this?
What was God showing me?
Here’s what I believe He impressed on me:
1. Delays Can Be Deadly
My hesitation cost dearly in the dream.
As a father, leader, and follower of Christ, there are moments when we must act swiftly. James 4:17 says:
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
Sometimes, we delay because we want perfect clarity, perfect certainty.
But leadership often demands decisive action amidst uncertainty.
By waiting too long, the problem worsened until the only option was amputation — not restoration.
How many times in life do we wait, hoping the situation will resolve itself, only to find that the cost of inaction has multiplied?
2. Fear of Being Wrong vs. Faith in God
Part of why I delayed was fear — fear of making the wrong choice, fear of failure.
But this dream reminded me:
Leadership is not about perfect decisions, it’s about trusting God and taking faithful steps forward.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
When we lean too heavily on our own understanding, we become paralyzed. But when we submit to God, He gives us peace to act, even when we can’t see the whole picture.
3. The Cost of Indecision in Leadership
This dream wasn’t just about my son.
It’s about everything I’m responsible for — my family, my businesses, my team, the people God has entrusted to my care.
As a leader, indecision hurts more than me. It ripples outward, wounding those who depend on me.
My family.
My friends.
My team.
God’s plan for me.
Sometimes, a delayed decision is more damaging than a wrong one.
At least with a wrong decision, you can course-correct. But with no decision, rot sets in — just like the gangrene in my son’s hand in the dream.
4. God’s Mercy Even in Our Failures
Even though the dream ended in horror, I’m grateful it was only a dream.
It was a warning, a lesson, not a prophecy.
Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
God gives us new chances every day.
Today, I get to hug my son with both arms intact.
Today, I get to act decisively where I’ve been hesitating.
Today, I get to trust Him more deeply.
Moving Forward
When I woke up, I prayed immediately:
“Lord, help me to lead with clarity, courage, and faith.
Help me not to delay out of fear or overthinking.
Guide my steps so that those under my care are protected, healed, and whole.”
This dream was actually, a gift.
It reminded me that life is fragile and that leadership isn’t about comfort or safety — it’s about stewarding what God has placed in your hands.
May we all act decisively, with hearts tuned to His voice, so that nothing precious is lost through delay.