Phases to Your Dream-Come-True...
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 4:40AM 
Happy Wednesday, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. I was supposed to announce the winner for May last week but it slipped my mind since I was writing my blog post while on vacation. :)
May's winner for the $10.00 Starbucks giftcard is...Megan Kaeb!
Congratulations, Megan! Just email me your mailing address and we'll get your gift card in the mail. Thanks for being a part of this online community.
Win an I-pod Shuffle!
Just a reminder to you, my friends: I am giving away a 4G I-pod Shuffle in July. How do you win? Pick up a copy of my newest book, "Growing Grateful Kids" - post a review on Amazon and send me the link. Contact me for more information.
Now on to my topic...
Maybe you've read the famous Hudson Taylor quote before. I love this quote: I have found there are three stages to every great work of God: It is impossible; then it is difficult; then it is done.
This has certainly been true in my own life. What about you?
Years ago - right in the midst of the worst parts of my battle with Lyme Disease (and the financial stress that followed), God put it in my heart to write a book. I knew that my budding dream was from Him because it was way out of my comfort zone, it made my heart beat faster; it stirred up all kinds of fear and excitement and anticipation; and wise mentors confirmed the gifts within me. And yet, I still had a process to go through in order to lay hold of such a promised land.
Currently, I am in a new place, about to lay hold of a new land, and here again, I find myself in the familiar place of unfamiliarity. If I hadn't walked through this series of emotions and feelings before, I'd be tempted to think that maybe I'm not suited for this next place.
If you have dared ventured to a new place that God has for you, I'm sure you've encountered the same questions and feelings. But we must remember, the Bible says that even Moses felt like a foreigner in his Promised Land. Even though we have promised places to lay hold of, it doesn't mean that we'll lay hold of those new places without effort, obstacles, and whole lot of conflicting emotions.
Many years ago, out of the ashes of my pain, my writing career started this way: I self published my first book, then I started writing for Focus on the Family, and then I was contracted to write a devotional journal. All of those steps were necessary and exciting steps in their own way. But when my first big book contract finally came through (the thing I was dreaming about), I was utterly surprised by my first emotional response. You know what I felt? Instantly depressed. Does that make any sense at all?
It didn't to me either until I heard a story about when Beth Moore received her first contract. She knelt down on the floor and cried - not for joy - but out of sheer terror that she might fail the Lord in some way. That's exactly how I felt.
When the dream is far away, it is typical to experience intermingles feelings of excitement and impatience. But when the dream is suddenly within your grasp, and it starts to touch your human-ness - and you become very aware of your own potential to make a mess of things - well that's just downright scary.
As far as I can see, the phases of our 'dream-come-true' journey look like this:
A dream far off - exciting, waiting, wondering, impatience
A dream up close - fear, second-guessing ourselves, stepping out of our known zone and into the learning zone, wondering about the cost now that the dream is so close, wondering if God made a mistake in choosing us; we can't go back - we're not the same after having this dream - but feeling unsure and unsteady about moving forward.
A dream realized - once we begin to take the land and we find a new normal, our learning zone becomes our known zone, we become more seasoned and strengthened to stand in this place, but not without effort, fatigue, faith, and trust; we wouldn't have it any other way, and yet, no one but God knows what it took for us to step and step out like we did. This is the life of faith.
Anne Ortlund wrote these beautiful words: Lift up your eyes. Your heavenly Father waits to bless you - in inconceivable ways to make your life what you never dreamed it could be.
Dream big. Dream with Him. Then walk forward unafraid - to places you've never been. Be willing to be stretched and strengthened. Embrace the unknown places with Jesus at your side and experience God's miracle of life working in and through you. What a way to live.
God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! (Ephesians 3:20).
~Until next week.
Reader Comments (24)
"My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
It is comforting to know that we don't ever have to rely on our strengths, just on our faith in God, and faith that He means what He says.
Thanks for the always timely encouragements Susie!
This is why you are my de facto mentor. I have no one else to tell me this stuff, but you change my life on a weekly basis. So thank you.
:-) H.
Thank you for writing these words down! You don't know how many times I've been to the dream up close to only get busy with something else. Today, I am there again with so many doors open to me. I have to put the fear of failure and of not enough aside and let God do the rest in me.
I hope this makes sense!! But I was sooooo blessed by this Word~ God is truly faithful and we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living!
That verse has been foundational in my faith journey. In my weakness HE is strong in me! What a concept. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
So nice to meet you! Again, your blog post moved me to tears. I posted it on my FB page. May God continue to establish you, open doors for you, and fill you with more of Himself. You are His treasure! Blessings to you~
You have such a way with words. I'm so thankful that God has honored me with the privilege of speaking into your life. You are a precious soul and I can clearly see why God intends to use you mightily.Bless you, sister.
Thank you for your note! YES! Put fear under your feet! Walk forward unafraid, and when you're tempted to look down and be self-aware, choose to look up instead, and be God-aware! (Talkin' to myself here, too). :)Blessings to you!
Congratulations! That is wonderful! What an honor and encouragement for work well-done. I'm excited for you! May God continue to fill you up with peace and faith as you move ahead and step into the things He has for you! Blessings!
I've said this before, but you are a brave, wonderful, faith-filled woman. May God seem especially close to you in the coming days. Please keep us posted on how you're doing and how we can be praying for you.Bless you~
You are not alone!
Blessings~
Thanks for sharing your powerful insights, and YES, it makes perfect sense! God is with you! Plant those seeds of faith, let the 'waiting' seasons send your roots down deep; soon and very soon you will see incredible growth, fruit, and break through! Blessings to you, my dear!
Good for you for stepping out and stepping in to your dream! I remember when I self-published my first book, it was altogether scary and wonderful, and such an important first step in my writing journey. May God continue to establish you and make you hugely fruitful!Blessings~
Bless your heart! On one hand, you are completely normal (as far as being in the midst of the sameness of walking out your dream, and struggling with the sameness of it all, while dreaming of that next place God has for you), and yet, you're exceptional in your love for God and your desire for His highest and best will in your life. You must know that He is SO proud to call you His own! Be at peace once more, my friend, for the Lord has been good to you, and He'll be good to you again. Glad you stopped by. :)
I know that God delights in using people like you! Your passion, faithfulness, and conviction are like fertile soil for Him to plant a harvest that is one hundred times greater than your natural ability! Disproportionate to your weaknesses! And totally conceivable because you walk with God! Bless you, bless you!
Nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by. I'm so grateful that you enjoy this blog. May God continue to speak to you through the messages posted here.
Blessings to you!