Dust Off Those Dreams!

I am still learning that God’s plan for me is bigger than I can dream up! I am still learning that God will make space for the things he has placed in my heart!

 A few years ago, God had moved me to be more proactive in sharing my faith and being a witness for HIM. I wanted to change my interactions so that I would live a life that was intentionally showing more of who GOD was. I wanted to be more purposeful and I prayed for more opportunities to do so. 

A Dream Awakened

A part of me, is always searching for little ways to remind myself about God’s goodness, HIS love towards me and His promises for me. I would search through online stores for little things to keep me on track when my heart became overwhelmed by the distractions of life. A scripture verse inscribed make- up bag, diary, and planners, inspirational key ring. I wanted an everyday way to display, share and declare the comforting and life- giving truth found in the WORD of God and so was born the idea to design t-shirts that would open the door for conversation.

To start, I thought I would do some research and I sketched out a few designs for fun. I am no artist, but as I began sketching and doodling little quotes, Jesus literally flooded my heart, my journals, my written prayers with tons of inspiration…. but I wrote them down and left them.  I told myself, ‘You are no artist!’

A Dream Rekindled

A little while later, I was prompted in my heart to pick it up again, so I took another step in bringing the designs to life graphically. I invested in software, taught myself to use the program but again…. left it there.  I told myself that the designs I created just were not ‘good enough!’ This went on for a couple years. I was afraid. I kept finding excuses like: “it wasn’t the right time,” “someone else is already doing it”, “no one wears t-shirts anymore”, “I’m not a graphic designer.” “I don’t have a business mindset!”

 And some of those statements I was telling myself were probably true, but Jesus through His Love for me has made me realize that I don’t have to believe those things about myself as if it’s the end of the road. HE is the one who directs the path of my life. HE can change those beliefs I had about my capabilities and HE has the power to realize my dreams in the way GOD purposed it to be.

GOD reassures me that if I surrender the dreams and passions that HE had given to me, If I trust HIM wholeheartedly HE will prepare me, and equip me to realize them not only in HIS time, but when I was mentally and spiritually , and wholeheartedly ready!

I have realised that God will never leave us hanging out there stranded, on a compromised rope, grabbing on for dear life. HE is a God that loves his children unconditionally and only wants the best for us. There are some real difficult times we go through and some hard pills to swallow along the way. Many times, we feel like we are the only ones suffering through the challenging seasons of life, but HE is right there pulling us through, making sure we don’t fall and if we do, HE is there to pick us up and carry us the rest of the way.

 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut 31:8)

In Jeremiah 1, the LORD told him ,’Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.’ GOD formed you and I with the abilities and giftedness we need to accomplish the dreams HE has placed inside each of us. But like everything we aim to do in life, actions take preparation, skills need enhancing, knowledge and experience needs to be acquired until we are ready to conquer the dream as God purposed it. Without the process, we sometimes sell ourselves short. By rushing through the process and skipping past some necessary stops, we can, at times, limit our dreams and what GOD can and will do through us.

I’m sharing this with you today because I was filled to the brim and still am with desires and inspiration and ideas. There are things I want to do, start, try, but if I don’t see a clear pathway for it before me, I now know that it doesn’t mean I need to bury it forever. It also does not mean I need to abandon and give up on it and it does not mean that I am not on the right path for me. It just means that GOD is in control and HE is putting things in place, because when the time comes, and I promise you it will, HE must get the glory!

I shared all of this with you today, so that you can know, there is a place for you and your dreams no matter what stage in life you are at. So dust off those dreams and turn them over to God. Watch and wait for HIM to do great things in your life!

Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.