Who truly understands the depths of the heart? Who possesses the key to unlock the inner door leading to the dreams within? What diminishes the passion and enthusiasm for realizing a dream? A dream unfulfilled is, in essence, no dream at all.
At its core, a dream is an aspiration born from the deepest part of an individual. Importantly, dreams are bestowed upon every person on Earth, often conceived in childhood, typically within the first five to seven years of life. The natural inclination is to pursue such desires if ever attainable at all.
Every individual carries within them the child they once were, capable of recalling childhood memories, moments, places, and, most importantly, the elements that inspire their life’s dreams. We begin with a dream, yet often separate it from its source, leading many to lose heart and abandon their divinely inspired aspirations.
Many are endowed with the talents necessary to achieve their goals, but without a connection to the divine, they may excel in specific areas without finding true fulfillment or contentment. Therefore, the ultimate aspiration should be to align with the Dream Giver, God.
Dreaming big does not preclude achievement; however, certain key principles must be in place to realize these dreams. A dream is a divine vision for your life, and God desires to fulfill the heart’s desires. Yet, we often lose heart and fail to complete the journey set before us. Living a life below one’s potential should not be seen as the end.
God encourages you to pursue your dreams. Never relinquish your divinely inspired aspirations.
At times, a dream may be closely tied to a person you cherished, and losing them can feel like the death of that dream. This experience can be profoundly sorrowful, akin to attending the saddest of funerals.
However, the end of a dream does not necessarily indicate that it was not part of God’s plan for your life. Often, it is the influence of others that leads us to abandon our divinely inspired aspirations. This influence is usually not intentional but stems from natural concern and perspectives that may not align with God’s vision.
You may fully embrace your dream and hope for others to support it, but this does not guarantee their understanding. It is important not to assume that everyone recognizes your potential or the purpose you hold in your heart. Even if you are certain of your calling, acceptance from others is not always forthcoming.
Dreams are often intertwined with key individuals in our lives. It is rare to have a plan that does not involve others. Therefore, when we feel sidelined, unnecessary, or even rejected, it can jeopardize our dreams.
God, in His wisdom, allows us to move forward, sometimes providing new paths to fulfill the desires of our hearts. He is in the business of bestowing new dreams. Even if a dream seems lost, and a part of your life feels diminished, God has the power to inspire new dreams. He can transform past failures and obscure years into a flourishing stream of living water.
The ultimate aspiration for any dreamer is to touch their dream, to see it materialize, irrespective of the cost.
There are two essential requirements for realizing your dream:
1. Obedience, and then
2. Sacrifice
Obedience supersedes sacrifice. If disobedience permeates your life, you are in rebellion against God, and the Word of God equates rebellion with “witchcraft.” Consequently, there is absolutely no possibility of experiencing the tangibility of your dream.
Following obedience comes sacrifice. What are you willing to give up for the Lord? Or rather, what do you hold most dear? In Abraham’s case, it was Isaac.
Abraham, the father of our faith, the one through whom we have faith and now believe in Christ our Lord, receiving such profound a salvation.
The narrative unfolds thus: God presented Abraham with a promise, or in essence, his “dream.” It was something to strive for, something substantial and meaningful beyond natural sight.
For Abraham and Sarah, the promise (Isaac) might have seemed utterly “impossible.” Abraham was advanced in years, and Sarah was barren.
God’s Word became reality for Abraham, and Isaac was born.
I wish I had the words to capture the anticipation and renewal, the sheer ecstasy as the baby Isaac, the long-awaited promise, entered the world with a mighty cry.
As Isaac grew into a young man, God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his only begotten, the son of promise, Isaac. In utter humility and complete obedience, Abraham believed, and this faith was credited to him as righteousness. He knew that even if he had to sacrifice his only son, God had the power to raise his Isaac from the dead and keep His promises alive.
On Mount Moria, as Abraham raised the knife to the slaughter of his promised son, the Angel of the Lord stopped him. The Angel praised Abraham for his obedience, not the sacrifice itself.
It was there that a ram was found caught in a thicket of the thorn. God provided the sacrifice, a symbol of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who became sin and was crucified in our place.
Obedience is far more valuable than sacrifice.
