Together We Think

We all have dreams. Call them goals, passions or visions of what could be…what might be…what hopefully will be! God has planted many dreams in our hearts about the future and we all look forward to the day when many (maybe all?) of those will be fulfilled. What I realized recently is that I have this tendency to allow these amazing dreams to become my dreaded nightmares! Maybe you do too? Let me explain…Over the past two years there are a number of dreams and visions that I have had to set on the shelf. For whatever reason the Lord has said no to their fulfillment at this point in my journey. The problem is that the longer they sit there, the more frustrated and anxious I become and the dreams slowly become my nightmares …not good!

In the past year God has opened up some really cool doors to pursue those dreams in small ways that I should find very enjoyable! That’s good right?!!! WRONG!  Instead, I have found myself getting upset that I don’t have more opportunities like them or that my dreams are only being touched on and not coming to full fruition, and once again, my dreams turn into nightmares. The sad reality is that I make a choice to twist these small opportunities into things to become frustrated over rather than appreciative for!

Let me give you a specific example: Not long ago, I was invited as a volunteer to participate in an initiative that by anyone’s standards would be honoring, exciting and fulfilling. You would think that my response would be gratefulness for a wonderful opportunity, but instead I found myself becoming frustrated and discouraged that the opportunity wasn’t bigger and didn’t bring me more long-term fulfillment. I found myself wondering why this opportunity had come not as a part of my full time ministry, but only as a part time volunteer…the dream had turned into a nightmare! (Am I sick or what!:-)

I went home that day and went for a run to clear my head and talk to the Lord about it and boy did He ever respond. Here is what He gave me:

1. Continue to be faithful where I have placed you because there is a reason you are still there.
2. Continue to be diligent in pursuing your passion and dreams and walk through doors when I open them.
3. Be appreciative of every opportunity I give you and don’t twist something enjoyable into something to be discouraged about.
4. Leave the unfulfilled desires and dreams in My hands and trust that I know what I am doing

Wow! That is exactly what I needed to hear and you can bet that I have been doing my best to act on it ever since.

So, my question to you is, how are you doing with this? Are the dreams God has placed in your heart turning into the nightmares because you are getting impatient or ahead of God? Are you having a hard time enjoying what he has already done for you, both big and small because you want more? Are you twisting wonderful things into a negative outlook?

I hope your answer to all of those is no, but unfortunately, I think the reality is that we all struggle with this at some level.

It is my prayer and hope that the next time you find yourself allowing the dream to become the nightmare, you will quickly remember that the God who gave you the dream is faithful to complete them it in you (Phil. 1:6) and instead of it coming a nightmare keep the dream alive by choosing to be faithful, diligent, appreciative and trust God with the rest!