We’ve talked a lot about “what” your dream is and now it’s time to tackle the “why” behind it. Why is your dream worth pursuing, fighting for and seeing through no matter what happens?
I shared a few months ago about a dream God had given me.
To take my stories from Indonesia, the good and bad, the ugly and broken, the beautiful…and write a book.
Since sharing that initial dream, He’s done a lot in this heart. And while that dream is there, and being actively chased :), there’s been more defining…and maybe some heart-refining, too.
I’ve always loved to write and dreamed of writing a book, but that answer to “why” doesn’t completely cover it.
So…here’s the more honest answer. 
It started with a blog, this space, in January of 2011. My husband and I had gone through an insane amount of change in the previous eight months…being in separate hemispheres for the last six weeks of my pregnancy, leaving Indonesia, the birth of our first child, readjusting to America, and relocating to a brand new city and state.
To be blunt, my head was spinning at a fast and furious, unable-to-focus, rate.
And this space became my haven…a place I hung out every day to share whatever it was that was going on in my heart and life…from the real of heartache and my inability to park a minivan, to the joy I felt over having coffee with a friend for the first time in six months and my confusion over why people wore boots over their jeans. 😉
America confused me, and I think I confused America.
And eventually those stories started to spill out, and God began to give glimpses of His goodness in the midst of ALL…despite the fact that everything I had always known no longer made sense.
Because it wasn’t about life making sense…it was about holding His hand and choosing to walk in His Grace, despite circumstances.
And I felt like maybe my stories were worth sharing…not just the happy and hilarious ones but the ones that broke me, the ones that changed my perspective, the ones that made (and still make) me cry.
And so I decided to write a book.
I’ve finished the rough draft, and I kinda love it. I think it’s one anyone can relate to on some level. (If y’all would like to say a prayer that a publisher will see it’s awesomeness, too, that would be amazing. ;))
But beyond books and blogs, I think the overall dream is encouragement.
I think that’s what He wants from me.
To take the gift He’s given me and use it for His glory. That might often be through words, but it also comes in other forms…listening, prayer, heart-spilling chats. He can use it all.
He can take my words…and make a difference, no matter big or small. It’s a difference and it’s for Him.
That’s the heart of it all right there.
And it’s worth chasing because it’s what He’s calling me to do.
I read these words recently, written by a friend…they are so true. And so what my heart needed to hear again this morning at this stage of dreaming.
Maybe you’re in a place where it seems no one sees you and it feels like what you do doesn’t matter. Maybe you feel like your potential isn’t being used. What are you doing taking care of a few sheep when you sense inside that you’re made for so much more? But you’re being faithful anyway. You’re serving, learning, loving, and growing.
You’re a God-Sized dreamer, and that means you can make a difference anywhere.
(You’re Made For a God-Sized Dream: Opening the Door to All God Has for You, by Holley Gerth; p. 50-51)
My prayer is that He’ll take this heart and life and use it for His glory…and I’ll leave the size of that up to Him.
And, Happy Tuesday, friends! As always, we’re linking up over at Holley‘s place. Hop by, say hello, and read what God is doing in some dreamer hearts!
