“Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.” (Matthew 21:21 NLT)
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your duaghters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17 NKJV)
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 ESV)
I was recently reminded that if I do not keep my dreams alive before me, my doubts will try to destroy them. I was also reminded that robust, living dreams will destroy my doubts. I think there is definitely truth here.
All of my life I have been a dreamer. Whenever I am introduced to something my mind immediately runs with it to the farthest reaches of whatever it is. As a born dreamer…
…in 4th grade, when I started playing little league basketball, I dreamed of being a pro;
…in 5th grade, when I started playing the trombone, I dreamed of being a professional trombonist performing all around the world (still do);
…in 6th grade, when I landed the lead role in the annual play, I dreamed that I was going to be a famous actor one day;
…in 9th grade, when I started academic public speaking (forensics and debate), I dreamed of being an international motivational speaker inspiring thousands at a time around the globe (still do);
…I could go on and on.
Most of my “childish dreams” were just that, and had no “real” future. However, there are other dreams that I hold that are God-given, and even though they have not yet come to pass are within His desire and design for my life. These are the dreams that doubts, inspired and fired by the father of doubts, are trying to destroy. However, these are also the dreams that have the potential to destroy my doubts.
In my opinion, the two largest “doubt feeders” known to man are “time” and “space.” These “doubt feeders” creep into my thoughts and if I allow them to they will destroy any dream that is residing in there. Little by little, as I begin to give in to the doubt, and give up on my dream, the dream starts to either fade or become a nightmare. If I choose to forget it, the dream will simply fade away into the fog of doubt-full forgetfulness. If I choose to hang on to my dream, but focus on the doubts, the “doubt feeders” will turn it into a nightmare of sorrow, loss, and regret.
By time, I am referring to the passing of time. A delayed dream, over time, begins to look impossible. I start to have thoughts like, “This is never going to happen, I guess it just wasn’t for me.” Or maybe like this, “You know, if I were just a younger man…” Or maybe even worse, “I am such a loser. I should have jumped at the opprtunity way back when. What’s wrong with me?” Or perhaps the most dangerous doubt feeding dream thief of all, “I guess it wasn’t God’s will after all.”
By space, I not only mean geography, but also culture, gender, resources, perceived ability, or anything else that I deem necessary, but missing, for a dream to be realized (there are no limit to potential “excuses”). When I take my eyes off from my dream and fix them on my doubts, it is amazing how many “doubt feeders” begin to jam themselves in between my ears. For example, “I wasn’t born at the right time or place to ever be able to actually see that dream come true.” Or perhaps, “What was I thinking, a (short person, man, blond haired, big, little, black, white, male, female, rich, poor, you fill in the blank)___ person like me could never do anything like that.” I could go on and on.
Bottom line: No matter who I am; no matter what has, or has not happened in my life up until this point; no matter what resources I do or don’t have at the moment; no matter how long it has been; my dreams can still come true! It may not be easy or quick (I know that first hand), but if I push away the doubts, resurrect hope and faith, and keep on working, I will be amazed by what is just around the corner!
Allow yourself to dream as you consider…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 331: Dreams Destroy Doubts