“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

I wonder if sometimes God’s dreams for us are “lower” than we think.

“God-sized dreams” might be small, and tucked in, and quiet. Sometimes it’s easier to think that “God-sized dreams” mean big dreams, our dreams, the things that are exciting and appealing and out “there.”

I’ve often wrestled with the phrase, “God-sized dreams” because I don’t understand what it means. God-sized? Dreams? What does that even mean?

And what of our dreams? What if they are just that, our dreams? Haven’t many people followed their dreams as an excuse to go their own way? To leave their families? To neglect the small, mundane, precious things that teach us patience, humility, and compassion?

I think about these things because I am on the verge, the edge of possibilities that could drastically change my life, my small, somewhat quiet life. I’m desperate not to lose the small. I want to hold on to my home and my little ones and my husband and stay within reach.

“Mama, sometimes when Miss Angie’s here, we miss you. We like Miss Angie, but only for a little while. We want you.”

Miss Angie is the sweet grad student who comes to my home once a week to play with my babes and clean my house so that I can write. A few hours, and then that’s it, the babes need their mama. I must respect them, and show them that I care about their feelings. So when the temptation arises for me to go on more trips or have more writing days, I pull back, and I remember, “mama…we want you.”

I wonder if what we call “dreams” are sometimes just our desires to pursue the things we want to do, and in and of itself, there is nothing wrong with that. God made us wonderfully with different gifts and skill-sets, and we are to use those gifts for His glory.

But we are first to be faithful, and commit our way to Him. And in that vein, we hold our dreams loosely, because really, if they are His dreams for us, than we have no need to rush or push to try to make them happen.

I have friends, soul-beautiful friends who teach people how to live out their “God-sized dreams” and I just want to understand it. Am I the only one that struggles with this concept?

What does it really mean to have a dream? How far should we let our “dreams” take us? What about if we have little ones in our care who need us to dream with them instead of putting our dreams first? What if we sacrifice our children on the alter of our dreams?

“Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

Psalm 37:3-5

These are honest questions, things I’m wrestling with. I’d love your thoughts…

By Sarah Mae, Stretching Into Blue (yes, I have a new blog!)

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Photo Credit: Birds

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