even when the hills are scorched by summer heat,
beauty finds a way to bloom.
{a quiet find on a morning hike}

I was buckling myself in for a four-hour layover flight from Dallas to Nashville, when I noticed the thirty-something guy sitting next to me.  Actually, it’s more accurate to say I was noticing his stylish, brown leather computer bag he was stuffing under the seat in front of him.

“Cool bag…” I commented. “Where did you get it?”

Somewhere between him telling me the source of his shopping find and me telling him I was on my way to speak at a spiritual retreat for the military and their spouses, a more important question entered into our conversation.

“So, how do you know if the dream you have is the dream God wants for you too?” It turns out my fellow passenger was a Christian too.

When I told him I published a book recently exploring this idea — thinking it was too late for my dreams to come true — he told me about his own dreams. “But, it seems selfish to go and pursue your dreams when there are so many more important needs out in the world,” he said.

My fellow sojourner of faith was asking questions we all struggle with.

I call it The Dream Dilemma: how do we know if the dreams we want to pursue are the ones God wants us to invest in too?

We all have dreams we once longed to explore.  Maybe we’ve never even given ourselves permission to consider what our God-given dreams are.

If that’s true for you, here are 5 questions I asked my new friend. They may also help you break out of the dream dilemma and pursue your own God-given dreams:

1. Is God prompting you to re-engage with your dream? The first dream may have to die in order for you to discover a new version of your dream. Different audience. Different slant. Different place.

Before the dream God gave Joseph as a child could come true (Genesis 37), his dreams of a happy childhood had to first die. Joseph’s dream also came true under the most unlikely place of pain and betrayal. Don’t look at numbers or past failure. Be aware of opportunities to re-engage in your dream, even if it doesn’t look like it could lead to anything. Follow God’s prompting.

2. Do you need to try something radically different? Sometimes we stick with what’s safe and known, but God may want you to exercise your faith instead choosing certainty.

It’s too late, you tell yourself. You’ve moved on. But Jesus sees the empty nets you’ve left.

Jesus says, “Cast the net on the [other] side of the boat and you will find a catch” (John 21:6).

Bring your heart back to life by responding to God’s invitation to walk by faith rather than hiding your heart behind what’ safe and known.

What are the empty nets Jesus may be calling you to pick up again? Try something radically different. It’s not too late.

3. Is it time to make new friends to explore your God-given dreams? Sharing your dreams with the wrong people can kill your spirit…

To be continued….

Catch the rest of Question #3… on why it’s important to make new friends… along with last two important questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering about your God-given dreams.

… Today’s post is published on iBelieve.com. Click here to read the rest of the article 5 Questions to Ask Before Giving Up on Your Dreams on iBelieve.com.  Head on over and take a virtual coffee break with me there.

This seems to be a hot-topic — what to do when you sense a God-given dream brewing, but you feel stuck.  I was invited to write this article for iBelieve — right after I was invited to do a radio interview on this same topic.  Is this a hot topic for you too?  

Are you facing any dilemmas about your God-given dreams? 

Pull up a chair.  Click to comment.  Share any thoughts, questions or comments.  

Or write a blog post in the coming week. Share what’s encouraging you and link up.  If it helps, you can use {dreams} or {questions I’m asking myself} as your writing prompt.

Now It’s Your Turn

Whitespace Thursdays Link Up

Blog about your whitespace moments. 

Publish your post ANY DAY of the week.  

Link up on Thursday.
Visit & comment on the post before yours.

Use the Whitespace Thursday Linkup Badge.

Write what prompts your heart. Share your voice.

Today’s Writing Prompt:

dreams
questions i’m asking myself

0r
share a whitespace moment 

– moments of beauty and rest
– feeding your soul
– your alone time with God

* Choose your own open writing prompt.  Be you.

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It’s fun to see the moments that feed your soul this week!

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“Whitespace is soul grace. Bonnie Gray ushers weary women into the real possibility.”–Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of One Thousand Gifts

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