Growing up I was told I could do anything. I was empowered on a daily basis. But fear is real.
I remember being around 11 years old with this HUGE dream to be a model. Yes, almost every child wants to be famous. It’s strange how our hearts begin yearning for attention, confirmation, and fame from such a young age. Opportunities would come my way and I thrived in them all. I knew this dream was real and was for me. I told anyone and everyone about it. As I grew older I began to hear the words “not enough” creep into my mind.
Don’t get me wrong, these never came from friends or family, or really even from companies or agencies. They came as small, internal attacks that I would then continue to foster and give home to in my heart.
After a while, the fear of not being good enough to accomplish my dreams became so large, almost as large as my pride, that I began to make excuses for why I was no longer following my dream. I was terrified I wouldn’t meet expectations. Terrified I wouldn’t be good enough. So, I ran from the dream instead of running to reach it.
This is how the devil begins to take control. Usually it’s internal; battling in spirit and mind. When we allow the voice of destruction to foster in our hearts we begin believing.
And yes, it may sound silly. You’re probably thinking, “Okay Caroline, you didn’t become some big shot model. Big Deal.” But you’re missing the big picture. Yes, this dream may not have been meant for me, and that’s completely okay! But it is the fear of not performing well enough, of not being good enough, that is still in my life today.
You see, those small attacks create an atmosphere with a lack of dreaming in our lives. A habit of shutting ourselves down.
Can you think of dreams you’ve had, that you crushed yourself? That alone is what the devil wants. To let us crush our own dreams. To have no faith. To run from the big dreams instead of running to God with them.
When I began thinking about creating this site- I immediately shut it down in my mind. I didn’t tell a soul about the dream. I just told myself no and moved on.
It wasn’t until I read Ephesians 3:20 that I began to throw out lies from Satan and started fostering words of the Lord.
“Now glory be to God, by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” Ephesians 3:20 (LB)
I heard this during a sermon by Pastor Rick Warren from California. He said something that really stuck,
“Faith is choosing and believing God’s dream for your life...Dreaming is an act of faith.”
He followed the sermon with three main points.
Ask God for what HIS dream is for your life. With His dream, you have purpose and strength that cannot fail. What better dream for your life than one from the ultimate dreamer himself?
Believe God’s promises for you. This always seems to be the toughest for me. We’re surrounded by people who love to watch us fail. Our sinful nature just loves when we feel above one another. And real, true encouragement runs low.
So, cover your life in prayer, God’s Word, experiences that motivate you to trust God more, and a community of people who believe in you and trust God’s promises for you also.
Lastly, DREAM! This is the fun part. One of my favorite sayings has always been “have God-size dreams.” But God-size doesn’t always mean massive.
Emily Freeman says it best,
“One thing is that God-sized has nothing to do with size. Maybe another way to think of it is God-shaped.”
Send yourself toward life-giving dreams instead of life-draining ones. Pursue his will, and the outline of your God-shaped dream will form. Don’t sell yourself or God short with this outline.
We have to have faith that we are enough for our dreams with God. Don’t let anyone discourage you from the dreams placed within you by Him. And above this, be the person to encourage those around you that they are enough to reach the dreams placed within them, too.
Be the community you want surrounding you.
For me, this has been a daily choice. A choice to listen to and trust the promises of God. And to be honest with y’all…some days I just don’t want to make that choice. Does anyone else feel me on that? It takes work, time, and effort.
Even while writing this, I think to myself, ‘Who am I to write about dreaming and being good enough? What qualification do I have to even share this? What if people think this site is awful?’
The fear of not being enough is continually creeping in- but with God, we get to send it away immediately.
Read Jeremiah 32:27 over and over.
“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” -Jeremiah 32:27, (NLT)
So when I dream now, I go through those steps because I know the Lord is the one dreaming with me. He created the dream Himself.
Who is to say we can’t accomplish His dreams in us? No parent. No friend. No teacher. No coach. Not the enemy. Not even ourselves.
No matter who you are, or what dream God has for you, big or small - You are enough.
