The Potter's House Podcast
Episode: Don't Bury Your Dream! | Bishop T.D. Jakes
Date: September 28, 2025
Episode Overview
In this powerhouse sermon, Bishop T.D. Jakes delivers a stirring message entitled Don't Bury Your Dream, drawing from the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. He weaves together deep biblical insights, personal empowerment, and spiritual warfare, urging listeners not to give up on their dreams—no matter how lifeless or delayed they may seem. Through passionate storytelling and faith-filled declarations, Bishop Jakes explores themes of hidden brokenness, resilience, divine timing, and the necessity of tenacity in moving from unanswered longing to miraculous fulfillment.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Context: Two Women, Two Types of Lack
(02:00 - 07:00)
- Bishop Jakes sets the stage by contrasting two women: one overtly poor and in debt (whose lack is visible), and the wealthy Shunammite whose struggle is hidden (an empty womb).
- Key insight: “Empty is just empty, any way you cut it... One woman had an empty cupboard, and the other woman had an empty womb.” (21:03)
- He challenges the audience not to judge need from outward circumstances; everyone has some form of lack.
2. The Power of Capacity and Expectancy
(09:00 - 17:00)
- Recalls the miracle of pouring out oil only as long as there were vessels to fill, driving home that God responds to our level of openness and need.
- Quote: “As long as you got a need, He’s gonna have a supply... According to your capacity, so be it unto you.” (15:30)
- Encourages the church not to limit their requests or dreams before God due to low expectations or pride.
3. The Hidden Pain of Success
(17:29 - 23:52)
- Focus shifts to the Shunammite woman, who is “rich but broke in a place you can’t see.”
- Jakes notes how those with material success can have deep, unspoken wounds and unfulfilled desires.
- Quote: “When you are broke, you think if you had money you’d have everything. But poverty doesn’t escape anybody... Empty is just empty.” (21:03)
4. Dreams Deferred and the Fear to Hope Again
(25:56 - 32:10)
- Explores how disappointment can lead to shutting down emotionally, especially when past hopes have been repeatedly dashed.
- Quote: “Don’t play with me. Don’t get me excited about something that God isn’t gonna do... because wanting hurts.” (25:56)
- Warns against settling for less and silencing your desires due to the pain of hoping and waiting.
5. The Process of Resurrection: Faith and Action
(32:13 - 39:01)
- Focuses on the moment of loss: the child appears dead, but the woman refuses to accept finality.
- Instead of preparing for burial, she brings the child to the prophet’s room—returning the dream to its spiritual source.
- Quote: “That’s why I’m not gonna let no devil in hell take away what God has for me—because I had to push this out.” (33:52)
- Jakes relates this to not giving up on God-given dreams, regardless of setbacks or how impossible circumstances appear.
6. Practical Spiritual Warfare and Persistence
(39:09 - 46:54)
- Emphasizes audacious faith: running to God even when it seems irrational or fruitless (driving the donkey fast).
- Quote: “If something hurts you bad enough, you’ll be here waiting on the church to open up... When you get in trouble, you won’t have to wake up—you’ve been up all night.” (38:15)
- Urges persistence in prayer, praise, and faith—no matter how lifeless the dream appears. “Don’t bury your dream.”
- Warns against constantly jumping from place to place: “You gotta stick it out... stick it out when you’re happy, stick it out when you’re not.” (47:01)
7. The Miraculous Return—Don’t Bury What God Promised
(50:00 - 61:00)
- Elijah performs the miracle in an unorthodox way, underscoring that miracles may not look pretty or proper.
- Quote: “Don't bury your dream. Don't you bury your dream. I don't care how they talk about you... Don't bury what God gave you.” (53:56)
- The boy sneezes seven times—signaling not only restoration but divine completion.
- Key moment: “Seven is the number of completion. That means this thing is over. You ain't never gonna have to go through that again. That means God has set divine order back in this place.” (61:43)
- This pattern signifies the completion of pain and the beginning of fulfillment.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You don’t have to wait on a particular day to reach God… You got a phone in your bosom—you can call Him up and dial Him when you want.” (01:20)
- “If you get it too easy, it doesn’t matter to you. But if you had to sweat… If you had to push this out, you’re not going to let that die easily.” (34:10)
- “Silence is a dangerous thing. This woman has shut up about having a child. Her silence is not contentment, but she had settled.” (30:20)
- “The battle is not mine… It belongs to God. Praise Him for taking over your battle!” (50:21)
- “The more you praise Him, the warmer it’s gonna get… If you praise Him like you believe God for a miracle…” (53:44)
Key Timestamps
- 01:20: Introduction to main scripture and theme (“Don’t bury your dream”)
- 17:29: Shift to the story of the rich, barren Shunammite woman
- 21:03: Discussion of hidden poverty amid wealth; universal need
- 25:56: The pain of hoping again after disappointment
- 34:10: The value of persevering and the meaning that comes from struggle
- 39:09: Call to spiritual action—breaking the spirit of death over dreams
- 47:01: Message on spiritual commitment and sticking things out
- 53:08: Resurrection miracle and the importance of unorthodox obedience
- 61:43: Symbolism of the boy sneezing seven times—completion and new order
Conclusion: Don’t Bury Your Dream
The episode closes with Bishop Jakes’ prophetic encouragement: even when a God-given dream feels lifeless, cold, or irretrievably lost, bring it back before God with tenacity and faith. The process may demand persistence, unusual steps, and enduring pain, but with God, dead things can live again. The timing and method may be unexpected, but “by this time next year,” everything can change—if only you refuse to bury your dream.
Bottom Line:
No matter how long you’ve waited or what you’ve lost, open your heart to God’s timing, maintain your faith, and don’t bury your dream. The miracle is in the persistence, and heaven’s supply never runs out.