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God Sized Dreams

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God-Sized Dreams

Can I make a confession? I have a God-sized dream buried deep in my heart.

It has been there as long as I can remember, but I’ve only recently gained the courage to give voice to it.

Maybe you do, too. Maybe you have a dream so big that you keep it tucked safely away where this world of disappointments can’t touch it.

I’m reminded of a movie I watched a few years ago, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton (don’t laugh!). In this movie, one of the main characters (Pete) is secretly in love with the female lead (Rosalee). And the wise bartender challenges him to go after her. Here’s part of their exchange:

Pete: I’ve tried everything.
Angelica: What did she say when you told her that you love her?
Pete: Well, actually, maybe not everything, but…
Angelica: What did she say when you kissed her?
Pete: OK, maybe it’s more like two things I haven’t tried.
Angelica: Well, what have you tried?
Pete: I have very unsubtly implied how I feel about her.

Aren’t we a lot like Pete sometimes? We have this dream. A dream so big that it fills our hearts with longing, and we just have to follow after it.

But we can’t.

Fear holds us back. Doubt and insecurity hold us back. Feelings of inadequacy hold us back.

Because, if we don’t try, we can’t fail.

But God says we are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus. If God planted this dream in your heart, He will equip you to carry it out. He will finish the work He started, and help you conquer it.

But you have to put one foot in front of the other. Take the first step, and then another.

Maybe you’re more like me and stuck in that waiting place of only hinting at your dream. Waiting for your children to grow up, for more education, until you’ve perfected your life or your faith. Maybe you’re waiting for an elusive state of being “good enough”.

Dr. Seuss has a great description of the waiting place in his classic “O, The Places You Will Go,” and it’s a place to be escaped and avoided.

I have to interject here that there are times when waiting is a good thing. Sometimes it’s God telling us to wait for His perfect timing, or so that He can prune, and grow us. So that He can prepare us.

Other times, God might be changing our hearts to make room for another dream. And in these cases, letting go (at least for now) is the best thing we can do. His word says He will give us the desires of our hearts if we delight in Him, but sometimes only He knows what will truly satisfy our souls.

Sometimes our waiting is caused by fear. And God’s word tells us that He has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and a sound mind.

What would it look like if we started pursuing our God-given dreams with power instead of fear?

I’m not talking about trying to force something to happen outside of God’s will. I’m talking about being faithful, taking reasonable action, and persevering through obstacles. Being willing to press on toward the goal that God has given us for our lives, and allowing Him to finish the work He started, whatever that may be.

Do you have a dream that is yet unfulfilled? What steps can you take to get closer to achieving it? What’s holding you back?

Crystal Brothers Bio Pic

Crystal Brothers is a daughter of the one true king, wife to a forest ranger, and homeschooling mama to 2 rambunctious little boys. She is also a dreamer of God-sized dreams and blogs at Serving Joyfully, a place where her desire is to encourage women in faith, homemaking, and motherhood. Visit her blog, Serving Joyfully.

Comments

  1. Feelings of inadequacy and the thought that if I don’t try, I can’t fail are two biggies for me many times… Funny thing though is that I’ve also noticed that there have been seasons of feeling overwhelmed when I put my God-sized dreams on hold and now looking back, I recognize God’s perfect timing with that too.

    I’m in a season of stepping out. It is looking a little bit different than I had originally imagined it and still scary to venture into new territory, but exciting at the same time.

    • You’re so right that sometimes God leads us to put things on hold 🙂 Good for you! I pray that God will bless you for stepping out in faith. It is always my desire to be in His will, no matter what that means for my dreams, because I know that His will is always so much better than mine anyway 🙂

      Thanks for sharing!

  2. Oh. How. Timely! Just yesterday I finally stepped out in faith and ventured ever so slightly into my dream. He is already sending positive reinforcement that I did the right thing. Blessings to you and thank you for these words Crystal.

    • So happy for you! I LOVE it when God knows just what we need and gives us those little confirmations and reinforcements to encourage us along the way. He is so good to us.

  4. Perfect timing for me. This follows so much of what God has been speaking to my heart…I often walk in fear but tell myself I’m just “being logical” by playing it safe. Lord, increase my faith. Thank you Crystal!

  5. This is SO good. All of it, but especially this: “But God says we are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus. If God planted this dream in your heart, He will equip you to carry it out. He will finish the work He started, and help you conquer it.”
    Thank you!

  6. Yes, trying to force things outside of God’s will takes you into the thicket, speaking from past experience. . .
    In the last few months I have changed my prayers to asking what He wants of me, to follow on the path He wants me on. It has made a positive difference, I believe. Nonetheless, stepping out on those dreams are still scary, but necessary. Plus, our work bears fruit at some point. For example, I am now a contributor to two sites: Happy Wives Club and Engaged Marriage. 🙂

  7. So good, Crystal! Thank you for sharing. I, too, have a God-sized dream. I’ve been in the “waiting” period (God’s timing, not mine) for awhile now. I believe that time is coming to a close. Now I want to use wisdom in moving forward, but not rush ahead. I want to be sure to wait on God, but not let fear hold me back. Such good wisdom you gave today, thank you!

  8. So excited to see you here, Crystal! Waiting is soooo hard, but I’m now pursuing my God-sized dream. Even in the pursuit, though, more waiting.

    • Yes, Meghan, sometimes there is waiting and waiting and waiting! A lot of my dream involves writing, and one of my favorite writing/publishing blogs to read is Rachelle Gardner. She has written before about how that waiting and uncertainty continues, in different ways, even after you have “arrived.” It’s why our contentedness and self-worth can never become tied up in such things. Because if we are content in God alone, then I think the waiting and uncertainties of risk-taking becomes easier to deal with. I’m rooting you on, sister!

  9. Crystal! Whan an inspiration you are!! It is so hard to know if it is just something crazy in your head…but to learn to listen to God and know it is a capacity at only which he can help us pursue is so amazing! Like Kim Hall I didn’t feel I was allowing Him into my heart and was trying to force what I thought I wanted and in my timing. I know now that it is all in His timing <3 Patience and hard work for me going after my dream!!

    • Oh, Veronica, thank you so much for your sweet words! Yes, it is hard and sometimes I still find myself questioning which path to take. I just want it to be His guidance that stays me and not fear. Thanks for sharing your thoughts as well.

  10. This… “Other times, God might be changing our hearts to make room for another dream. And in these cases, letting go (at least for now) is the best thing we can do. His word says He will give us the desires of our hearts if we delight in Him, but sometimes only He knows what will truly satisfy our souls.” Oh. My. This is SO where I am right now… where my family is. A season of letting go and redirection. It is hard. But when we walk in HIS will it is the perfect place to be. I would NOT want to be anywhere else. Beautiful Crystal!

    • Yes, Chelsey, it can be so hard when the realization comes that we need to let go and change directions. But, it’s still so worth it to be walking in His will–so much better and more peaceful than trying to fight for something that *should* be the right thing…ahem, not that I know from experience or anything…lol

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