"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity..."
Jeremiah 29:11-14
I'm learning what it means to have a God given dream. It's a dream in which we walk together. I'm led by Him and not driven. I go where He leads me (even and especially when I can't see what's ahead) and unimaginable things happen.
Rewind to about a year ago...I thought I'd never dream again. Some of my most treasured and precious dreams were dead and gone. No hope for their actualization. Like shattered pieces of glass, scattered on the ground they lie. Devastation and hope deferred - my heart and soul was sick. Many times, I wrestled with my thoughts to God wondering how this could be His plan - how allowing all that had happened to my family was part of His plan.
Fast forward back to the present day...and I see things very differently now. I look back at all of the broken dreams once thought to be shattered pieces of glass, and now realize those broken dreams are in fact part of a much bigger dream that fit perfectly together in a way that only God knows and sees. They are the Lord's plan for me, which is bigger than anything else I can imagine and see. To the human eye - it is a mess. But to Jesus, it is a beautiful mess - one that He does bless.
And, by following Jesus, even when it's tough and I don't see what lies ahead, I learn more about my gracious and merciful Father. I'm learning more about who He is, and I can't help but feel this incredible love for Him. I'm learning that He answers prayer. I'm learning that in times of silence it is time to focus in, listen and wait on Him for His perfect timing to lead me to the next leg of this journey. I'm learning how to obediently follow Him, one step at a time. I'm learning how to be fearless instead of fearful.
God has answered my prayers. God has restored my dreams, but not in the way I would have expected or thought. I can't help but believe that my dreams now do in fact belong to God Himself. And that God would choose ordinary, broken me to do His important work is the greatest, biggest dream ever come true!
The Lord's Plans
By the Lord I cannot be led
When it is my plans that cloud my head.
Selfish desires, agendas and plans come crashing down
When the focus is on that of man's.
Great are the plans and purpose the Lord has for me.
They are greater than anything else I can imagine and see.
Thy Will be done in Heaven and on earth.
And in Him I will find my self-worth.
No longer do the opinions and judgments of others hold me captive.
Because of the forgiveness He does so freely give.
In Jesus I am able to finally live.
Because of Him the Truth I will loudly shout!
Be gone from me shame, worries and doubt.
Be gone from me sin.
I will no longer let you take over and win.
