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On Wednesdays we are thrilled to fling open the doors to all of YOU! We love hearing your dreaming stories…the lessons you’ve learned, the roads you’ve walked, the dreams He’s planted in your hearts! Today we are excited to welcome Renee Fisher to God-sized Dreams. She shares the reminder that suffering is often an important and necessary part of the journey toward our dreams. Thanks for being here today, Renee!
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Calling dreams to life can be tricky. How do you know if it’s from God or the pizza you ate last night? I know I’ve been called many things.
Racehorse.
Bulldog.
The Energizer Bunny.
Spice Renee.
Do you want to know my secret to calling dreams to life? By overcoming many sufferings. One of my all time favorite quotes is from John Eldredge in Wild at Heart. He writes,
“I don’t trust a man who hasn’t suffered.”
I agree.
I’m pretty sure the Apostle Paul would agree too!
One of my favorite verses of his is Philippians 3:10 that says,
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. (ESV)
Did you catch that?
Do you want the power of calling dreams to life in others including yourself?
The answer is in two parts, and includes an ampersand. You may not even like the answer.
As a self proclaimed, “Dream Defender,” who champions and cheers the dreams of many others—I must remember two things.
- It’s not about having the best-looking Instagram feed full of fluffy quotes.
- Suffering is really, really painful.
During my teen and all of my college years, I was house bound on and off due to eczema so extreme that it took the skin off my face, feet, and hands. To top it all off—I also struggled with anxiety. If there’s anyone who understands sufferings—it’s me.
It’s why I jump out of bed every morning and attack the day with enthusiasm. So hear me when I say this:
I see you.
I hear you.
The Bible talks about 3 different kinds of callings that help us learn from our past, grow from our present sufferings, and dream for a brighter future.
I’m taking this from a sermon my pastor gave on Isaiah 49:1-6 about closed and open doors. How do you know if the dreams inside your mind and heart are from God? Read below to figure out your true calling:
Sovereign Calls. Have you ever felt isolated or distant from God’s call on your life? Isaiah writes,
He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.
Isaiah 49:2 (ESV)
God equips us in his sovereignty. He fills us with his Spirit, gives us abilities, intelligence, knowledge, and all craftsmanship (Exodus 31:3). If you feel like God has called you to something, but you can’t quite figure out why nothing is happening yet remember two things: Just because life is painful and difficult doesn’t mean it’s a closed door. Just because there is an open door doesn’t mean it’s from God.
Hidden Calls. God’s call actually begins in the Mother’s Womb. The Lord called Isaiah from the womb, and He calls us too (See: Isaiah 49:1, Psalm 139:13-16). Some of us may have an easier time discerning what our calling is, but rest assured if you are a child of God—make no mistake—you are chosen and called a child of the Most High God (1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 82:6).
Global Calls. I remember begging God to heal me. I specifically said something like this, If you heal me I’ll do anything. I remember lying in that hospital bed wanting to experience this global call of God on my life. I knew I had a testimony, and I knew—like King David—that God was calling me to something much bigger than myself. What I wasn’t prepared for were all the years of suffering I would have to overcome to get to this calling. Friend, if you are holding dear the global calling on your life, don’t give up. If you’re experiencing the death of a dream—it’s painfully normal.
Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5 (ESV)
Question: What dreams are you hoping God will call to life? What dreams are you helping to call to life in others?
Renee Fisher is a spirited speaker, coach, consultant and author, who published her first eight books in under eight years. A self-proclaimed “Dream Defender,” Renee is passionate about calling dreams to life in others. A graduate of Biola University, she lives in Houston, Texas with her handsome husband and their fur child named “Star.” Connect at ReneeFisher.com.
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[…] It is an honor to share with y’all over on GodsizedDreams.com. You can read the answer including the rest of my new post on Calling Dreams to Life here. […]