Your Dreamin’ Fears

I wish I was fearless.  I know some pretty fearless people.  Sadly, I am not one of them.

This is most acutely evident when it comes to my dreams.  Regardless of my generally optimistic disposition, I can think of a dozen ways to submarine a dream.  I wrote last week about the war between executing my dreams with authenticity and my intrinsic insecurity.

But Holley asked her God-sized Dream Team this question: “What’s one fear you’ve faced when it comes to your God-sized dream?  And what’s the truth that’s bigger than that fear?”  If you have the smallest or biggest dream out there, lose 10 pounds, write a book, start a support group, run for office, improve my marriage, cook dinners, get a promotion, move cities, whatever, then can’t you come up with a list of why nots more quickly than you can come up with a list of why to do it?

Well, I can.  One fear.  Heavens, I can name a dozen.  What if I fail?  What if I embarrass myself?  What if I embarrass my family?  What if I don’t make enough money?  What if I make too much money?  What if this isn’t really the dream I want after all?  What if it’s not all it’s cracked up to be?  What if I can’t balance my life and family with this new dream?  Aghhhh.  Did you ever see that movie I Don’t Know How She Does It where the career mom played by Sarah Jessica Parker stays up all night making lists on the ceiling?  I do that.  The lists are NOT all good.

But……..and you knew a but was coming, let me speak to your and my dozens of fears with one truth: “When you take that first step into the unknown, He won’t let you go.”  I mentioned this song last week, but I love these words Britt Nicole sings over fears about your dreams.  It is your faith that will sustain you and bring you past those insecurities that threaten to cement your feet to the ground.  Take a step.  He will sustain you.  He will walk with you.  He will hold you when you falter.

My best friend just ran a marathon.  She’s not a runner.  She bravely trained with a running group all fall.  I love this story she shared with me after she ran.  She had two trainers as part of her running group.  Houston Marathon morning was windy and wet.  By the time she arrived at mile 20, she didn’t think she could run any further.  Then who should appear but her trainer?  He was there on the sidelines and he came off the sidelines and started running next to her.  Encouraging her and telling her she could do it and that she was almost finished.  When she reached mile 24 the other trainer came out from the sidelines and started running next to her on the other side.  Here she was, cold, wet, exhausted, frustrated, hopeless, and these two trainers ran right next to her urging her on.  You know what?  She finished.  She ran 26 miles on a cold windy wet day in Houston, Texas.

If you think that is cool, then let me introduce you to Jesus.  He is your marathon trainer.  He is going to speak encouragement and strength into your dreams and over your fears.  He will help you cross that finish line of your dreams if you will only let Him.  This is not a sermon to you because those words are settling over my soul this morning as I set out on the next chapter of my dream.

Exodus 14: Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today…The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Psalm 37: For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived,no eye has seen any God besides you who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

I Samuel 12:  Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!

Ephesians 3: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.   I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now 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, for ever and ever! Amen.

I leave you with this song from Britt Nicole today, may she sing encouragement over your fears like she did over mine: