Trusting God Thursday: “What Would it Look Like to Let God Have Your Dream?”

I haven’t met too many people who say they don’t have dreams for themselves. Some may deny the fact that they think on them (maybe even so far as to outline blueprints for them) for fear that onlookers would balk and point judgmental fingers.

“Dreaming is a waste of time.” Sound familiar? Possibly as a child your bubble was burst when that needle of condescension poked holes in your dream balloon. So, you vowed you’d either never speak of your dreams or you would seal them into your mental vault and deny their existence. As an adult, when we speak of dreams, we are met with either furrowed brows and folded arms or someone ready to take notes and begin mapping the journey.

GOD created us in His Image. Therefore, we have creativity woven into our DNA. Some of us have a stronger bent and skill set that allows for mastery of creative arts: music, writing, painting, engineering, sculpting, designing … these gifted ones have that dream seed that has been cultivated — watered, nurtured, pruned, fed — for the task they are to fulfill in life related to their specific gift.

The dreams that we hold were uniquely intended for us; they weren’t merely floating around in space and one day landed in our brains. So, typically our dreams are closely (if not directly) related to our gifts. If you’re like me, it takes a long time to realize this. But if we sit still long enough to hear GOD’s Whispers, He reveals them to us. We just have to ask.

Having a dream come to fruition will require cooperative work on our part. Yes, we can confidently call upon the Lord for His strength and courage to go the distance. But we have to be willing to roll up our sleeves and work with Him. And as Christ Followers, we recognize that He is the Master Architect and we are the builders. The way we impact others in our sphere of influence will come out of how we work (our attitudes, responses to circumstances and other people, our behavior in the good and bad times).

Funny thing, is that sometimes we forget that the dream was GOD’s idea all along. Did you catch that?

And because He is the originator of our dreams, wouldn’t it make sense to surrender the control and pursuit over to Him? It’s like letting the automotive designer show you the bells and whistles on the newest version of your car and how to operate it so that it lasts you longer than your last payment. The automotive designer has the mechanical and technical knowledge of how the vehicle works and can even improve on the aerodynamic performance for the next version of the same car.

GOD can do so much more with our dream than we can. And I’m speaking to myself here, Friend. I often have to tell myself, “Get out of my way.” Some of you may be able to relate.

Frustration rises up in me when I feel like the development or maybe the pace at which I’m traveling down this road just feels oh, so sloooooow … get my drift? That’s when I mumble something that sounds like, “How much longer am I supposed to be in this parked position, Lord?” And if I’m honest, I’ll admit that’s when my perspective and view is looking down at my feet and the ground they stand on, rather than looking up from where my help is coming from.

⁸ “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans,
and my deeds are not like your deeds,” says the Lord,
⁹ “for just as the sky is higher than the earth,
so my deeds are superior to your deeds
and my plans superior to your plans. Isaiah 55:8-9 NET

I’ll let you in on a secret: I’m a task-oriented individual. And for those of you who just said, “Ah, I know exactly what you mean!” you’re nodding your head to being in this circle of friends that like to see all the boxes checked off (preferably by the end of the day), the timeliness of a project moving with each passing day, little to no hiccups and spare parts available (just in case). We are the pre-planning planners — we plan to plan. Which means we also like to keep our tight little grip on the steering wheel and our foot does not leave the pedal. That driver’s seat is molded to suit our specifications.

Which also means it is hard for us to let go. OUCH!

When things go awry, we pace the floor, anxiously looking for a solution and are willing to do double and triple time to getting back on task (and of course, back in the driver’s seat).

Have you ever rode in a car with a “backseat driver?” Okay, I saw a few of you smile. A backseat driver is busy at work telling you how to make every move — from the pedal to the steering wheel to the gear shift to the mirror and everything in between — throughout the entire journey. When you have such a person in your midst, the music can’t be loud enough and the destination couldn’t be near enough. *wink*

If we say we are Christ Followers and that we’ve willingly surrendered our will to His, that includes those precious dreams. We have to remind ourselves that GOD’s Hands, although they are bigger and stronger than our minds can fathom, they are also gentle with what is delicate and priceless; and that includes us (and all that comes with us).

GOD doesn’t need a backseat driver. Yet, that’s how we behave when we insist on having it our way (go ahead, sing the jingle — but it won’t get you your way or the burger). Telling the Almighty how things should roll doesn’t convey trust and confidence. Let’s remember how everything began …

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 NIV

If your fingers have a death grip on that steering wheel or you are determined to follow your hand-drafted blueprints, what would it take for you to release all of that resolute determination into the Hands that created you? He did a fine job (whether you agree or not) — you were designed in His Image.

Maybe it would resemble taking a step back to exhale into safety when a particular move didn’t succeed — GOD protects us by setting up some parameters and guardrails. Maybe the disappointment in delayed progress later gives way to a much better outcome in the long run. Maybe the people whom you didn’t handpick to join you in the dream, GOD actually surrounded you with them because they have insight to help you in times of need. Maybe the slowness of your dream becoming a reality is to give you space and time to enjoy the journey and to experience Him in real time. Just maybe …

And if all these things somehow wonderfully came together, in a time that you did not pick, with people you did not select, for an outcome to be more phenomenal than your mind could imagine … would it all have been worth it to let the Master Dream Weaver to have His Way?

Fear will lurk around you to rattle your senses and lie to you, telling you that you’re making a big mistake.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

But GOD is faithful to His Word. His track-record with His People are evident from Genesis to Revelation.

For the Child of God, His Desires become our desires because that’s how the trust relationship works.

Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 ESV

I would love to tell you that I’ve done this flawlessly. But that would not be true. As I said earlier, I’m task-oriented and very much a work in progress. But I know that in times past, when those former dreams were simply that, GOD has come through for me every time. And I will tell you this: it didn’t always look the way I had initially envisioned it. I had to allow the Lord to pry my stubby fingers off the steering wheel, let Him work in me and through me and trust Him for the end result.

It was only scary until I could say I was being obedient to His Blueprints and not mine.

LINDA R. JOHNSON

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV

Peaceful. That’s what it would look like if GOD has His Way with my dreams. What about you?

I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~

LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary