Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more -- Genesis 37:5
Then he had another dream...when he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him -- Genesis 37:9-10
Joseph was famous for his dreams. They got him out of prison, saved a country and elevated him to the vice presidency of that country.
But before all that, they got him into trouble.
He had a clue early on that dreams were part of his calling. So he did the natural thing -- he went with it, right away, now. No one asked, no one was interested in his dreams -- but he told them anyway; that's why he had the dreams, right?
When he first sensed his gift he treated it as a Hey guys look at this! kind of thing. But, even though the dreams were his calling and were true, it wasn't time yet.
Maybe the gift was not a frivolous, curious thing for him. Maybe it was a gift TO him FOR others. Which is how it turned out.
When he used it to help others, in response to a need, that's when great things happened.
The good news is that even when he rushed his calling -- thru bad judgment or ignorance or immaturity or pride -- and even though there was some serious damage -- God still used it all for good.
Maybe part of the maturing of the gift is discipline and patience. The what is one part. The when and how might be separate, and just as important.
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