Our Journey - Dreaming Again
“I’ve lost my ability to dream. You know, not nighttime dreams, but dreams from God. I don’t know how to do it anymore,” I heard myself say. I honestly couldn’t remember when this drought of hope and passion began. Just when did I transition from being one who vibrantly dreamed God-possibilities and ideas at a rate that would make your head spin, to one who was hopelessly stuck in the muck and mire of everyday living?
“Well, what would you like to do more than anything? And don’t let perceived limitations tell you why you can’t do it,” my friend asked. Humm…this proved a bit difficult. I had come face-to-face with the reality of just how out of shape my “dream muscles” had become. I also had the thought that dreaming must be well connected to faith, as faith actually releases grand possibilities and outcomes. Therefore, could lack of faith be the root issue here?
Before I could allow myself to be completely immersed in this thought, she threw another question at me, “When were you the happiest, the most fulfilled? What were you doing? Who were you with? How did you feel?” Now these were questions I could answer! I started talking incessently, going on and on about mentoring and coaching others, especially women, helping them discover their potential, walking alongside them as they found out who God created them to be. Nothing could top seeing their face light up and their confidence rise, as they tapped into the giftings God had placed in them, whether it be teaching, leading, serving, worshipping, parenting, or being the most awesome wife on the planet. These were the times I felt on fire with passion, confident that I was making a difference, identifying new leaders who would change the world. It was downright euphoric!
Once I finally stopped talking, she simply stated, “Go with that. Keep dwelling on those times and ask God to give you more. Ask Him to stir dreams up in you that are directly from Him and for Him.”
Could it really be that easy? Could this simple “exercise” propel me to begin dreaming/visioning about God possibilities? I decided I would begin putting it to the test, asking God about the grand purposes he has for us. What could we do to make a difference for His Kingdom? What type of outrageous dream could come true? My mind started going crazy with possibilities!!! I imagined myself mentoring and leading, teaching, inspiring and challenging others, helping them to grow, lead well, be emotionally healthy, love their husbands and family’s unselfishly, and one day raise up others like themselves. Goodness, this felt great! I couldn’t wait to tell Stan what I had discovered!
This reminded me of Psalm 126:1-3, a portion of 15 chapters in the Book of Psalms described as the “Songs of Assents,” that tells of a time in which the Jewish exiles were descending from their captivity in Babylon to Israel, their homeland. As I imagine this scene, I can picture them weary beyond measure from years of captivity, but at the same time bursting with hope for what lay ahead. Excited for the first time in many years, endless possibilities and promises must have been bouncing in their minds. Could this really be happening?!?! For the first time in possibly their entire lives, God-dreams that were planted in their hearts were taking root as they were watered by the Living Water, bursting forth in fruitfulness, opportunity and possibility.
As they ventured into their homeland, this beautiful description is shared:
“When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we will be glad.”
Much like me, these dear Jewish men and women had also lost their ability to dream. They had been held captive for many years by ruthless leaders, enslaved and tortured beyond our modern day comprehension. But God kept true to His promises, delivering them from captivity into the Promised Land, planting God dreams and visions in their hearts and minds along the way, resulting in not only dreams, but laughter and singing. There was some serious joy going on!
As I think of mine and Stan’s life at this moment, I realize there are a great deal of unknowns, one or two possible relocations, and great restructure…I want to dream again…more than I ever have before. I want my mind to literally burst at the seams with ideas, visions, concepts, motivation and purpose! And greater still…I realize you may want this for yourself as well.
We are not limited, as God in us is limitless. We are not ill-equipped, as God has given us all that we need. We will not be afraid, as God in us is completely and utterly fearless. We are not helpless, as the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive and well in us!
So go ahead…ask Him to give you big dreams and visions. Don’t let your mind entertain the seemingly logical reasons of why you can’t do something. Start exercising your dream muscles by thinking back to a time when you were in your element, fulfilled, energized, and loving what was happening. Then ask Him, just like the Israelites, to give you dreams, laughter and that new song that just might change the world.
The time has come to dream again. So don’t hold back. He certainly won’t.
