Jill's Dreaming Big

Hello! Oh, how I've missed you all....

This summer, my husband and I have been hoping for something big. I've spent hours before the Lord asking, begging, hoping, dreaming for something big.

He'd given me His peace about the outcome, regardless of what it was, but I was still feeling anxious at times while waiting for the answer.

I was praying this morning, thanking the Lord for all He's taught me during this time, and asking Him to show me why I was still feeling anxious. He answered me almost immediately.

Right away, I felt the Lord ask me when the last time I hoped for something big was? When was the last time I dreamed something that only God could make happen?....and I couldn't answer. I realized that my anxiety was coming from the stress of dreaming a big dream, and the potential to be disappointed. I hadn't hoped for, dreamed up, or asked God for something big in so long.

I was convicted about what I had turned my God into....a small god. I have faith that God will supply my every need, I have faith that God will protect me, I have faith that God will always be with me....but  it has been a long time since I have been bold in my prayers, since I have dreamed and asked for something big.

The Bible teaches us to be bold in our requests to God. To be persistent. To pray with expectation that what we've asked for will be received (if we're seeking God's will). But we have to ask!

I get it- if we don't ask, we don't get a "no", and we don't get disappointed. What little faith. What a small life.

If we ask and wait, our faith grows. Our relationship with Him grows as we dream big together and seek His will. Yes, there's potential for earthly, human disappointment-but God does not disappoint.

We may not understand something in the moment, and we may be disappointed for a time, but He is always working things out. He has big plans for us.

How small is my testimony when I view God as such a small god, trusting Him in only the small things, that many people could credit to mere man instead of Him. How much more glory can God get when I dream big, ask boldly, and share His answers with others-and those big things can only be attributed to Him.

I would gladly risk a few moments of human sized disappointment for a lifetime of God-sized dreams and faith.

Today, we got our answer for this dream, and there was a time of disappointment. But I'm believing in a God who is bigger than my biggest dream, and I'm claiming the following promises for my future:

"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

"He holds victory in store for the upright. He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones." -Proverbs 2:7-8

Be blessed this week,

Jill