God Redeems Our God-Sized Dreams
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Embrace Your God-Sized Dreams The Way A Child Holds Onto His Teddy Bear, But Do It With Open Hands

We dream big, but our God dreams bigger.

154
https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1465101108990-e5eac17cf76d?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=750&q=80

Imagine the teddy bear that became your most prized possession when you were a child. Remember how much you loved it? Remember how you took it everywhere?

So much so that while you're getting ready for bed, you recount the day's events by how dirty and messy it was. There's a bit of mud on it from when you dragged it through the dirt and a couple holes in it from when it snagged on something sharp. But you didn't care because it was yours and you loved it for a reason.

Do you remember how tightly you held onto it everytime your Mom or Dad tried to take it away from you to give it a wash or fix it up a little? Maybe you can even hear yourself scream bloody murder and playing tug-of-war as your parents are equally frustrated with you not listening to them just as you are when they don't let you and your prized possession be.

But if only we had listened to them instead of holding tightly to our messy, gross teddy bear, we would have understood that they weren't trying to take it away forever. They mean only to clean and fix it up from the way we distorted it. Our parents were the ones that gave us the teddy bear in the first place, why would they take away something we love so much in the first place?

Often times, we're a lot like a child when it comes to our dreams.

We hold onto it with our tight, white knuckles no matter how hard it gets. We fight God when he says no, yet become surprised when the world tells us the exact same answer.

We have had these dreams to hold onto for so long that we don't want to see how distorted our dreams have become since we've first had them. So much so that we've forgotten who gave it to us in the first place.

You see, God isn't telling us to let go of our dreams and give up forever on them. It wouldn't make sense for him to have instilled those desires in our hearts in the first place.

We've become so childish in pursuing our dreams that we refuse to help with the determination that we can do it on our own so instead, we end up dragging our dreams through the mud and letting it snag on something sharp.

But when we go to God with our dreams in open hands, we're not giving it up. We're giving it to Him so that he can restore our desires. That way, these aren't just our desires. They are His dreams for us that become ours. He takes them and makes them into God-sized dreams worth embracing again.

"And to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV

When we stop being childish and come to him with open hands, we experience our dreams in a way that we would have never imagined.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58741
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37882
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959433
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

194890
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments