The thought of silence falling softly when sharing vulnerable pieces of myself leaves me shaking. I almost think that I could endure fingernails on a chalkboard better than a response that sounds like “crickets”. Vulnerability makes it easy for me to wrap my mind around the idea that “no one will ever love your dream the way you do.”
As a child, I shared dreams as if it was a normal part of any conversation. Now I believe the idea that “no one will ever love your dream the way you do” and hold it as my badge of honor. Being an adult, I find I hesitate before sharing my dreams. I begin to run through these questions in my mind:
Will anyone care about my dream? Do they want to hear the desires of my heart? Will they respond in love or totally shoot my dream down before it even gets off the ground?
But part of growing up is allowing yourself the chance to dream. I need to remember dreams are not just for children, but for all of us.
In You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream, Holley Gerth outlines some disclaimers she wishes she would have known before she started dreaming. Chapter 6 outlines all five disclaimers, but I literally sucked in my breath when I read, “You will sometimes feel alone.” I knew Holley was describing me.
Dreaming is an individual activity as you begin the process of visualizing, writing down your thoughts and bringing to life your deepest desires. Naming your dream out loud is a step saved for another day. Because in the naming and claiming you are telling the world (or your best friend) that you believe the dream in your heart is ready to be set free. It is the step that many of us do not end up taking because our dreams are very personal.
Holley shares:
No one will ever love your dream the way you do.
Since dreams are so personal, the emotions, vision, and processing occur internally. Others cannot feel the depth to which you feel, but it’s not because they don’t try.
In 2015, I opened my heart to dream about traveling to a new country on a mission trip. When the process started, butterflies wreaked havoc inside my stomach. Then an internal battle of talking myself into it, out of it and into it all in the same breath came next. Finally, with the support of a group of like-minded people surrounding me, I said it out loud for the first time. There is freedom in naming your dream, sharing it and allowing others to encourage you.
This all began in the Fall of 2015. In March 2016, I found myself flying toward Nicaragua with a group of other dreamers from my church. I literally cried when we landed, overwhelmed by the reality of the goodness of God.
During the week-long mission trip, there were many moments that I experienced and processed on my own. The nature of my dream looked different than the others in the group. Time alone actually provided me with the God time I needed to understand all He had done and was doing during the trip.
I learned so much when I allowed myself to dream. The two biggest were …
God was always present. From the tiny seed of an idea to the fruit, it bears when we follow God’s lead, He never leaves our side.
And God cares about it more than we do. The “it” refers to our dream or more fully finding our center in God’s love.
Saying “no one will ever love your dream the way you do” rings true until you remember God always cares.
Holley ends Chapter 6 with this encouragement:
God is always with us, so that means even when it feels like it, we’re never really alone. Sometimes the feeling that we are alone is actually an invitation to stop and recognize his presence with us.
For all of you dreamers out there, dream and dream some more. Let the challenges become markers on the way to your dream. When you feel alone, know God is always present and can’t wait to see you take the next step. Your dream will bear fruit even when your original dream looks different but the result is more than you ever imagined. God is that good! Invite Him to walk this new beginning with you and know He is there by your side.
Shared by Mary Geisen
Mary,
So good to be reading you here this am. It is hard to make our dreams public because there’s always the chance that someone might say, “Why on earth would you want to do that? or That’s a crazy, unreachable dream.” Those are the dream squelchers. So thankful that God always has our back and if He is the One who plants those dreams then nothing or no one can thwart them. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
We certainly take a chance when we name our dreams out loud. But the blessing is that God always cares way more than we do. God plants the seed for our dreams and waits until we sets them free to Him.
I love the reminders here that God is always present with our dream and that God cares about it even more than we do. Sometimes dreams can feel lonely and uncertain. But knowing that God is there reminds me that we are never alone, even in our wildest, deepest dreams!
I know when a dream feels lonely I am hesitant to share with others. Also, dreams are very personal. But God hears and knows our deepest dreams. He loves everything about us and how we yearn for more with Him.
Thank you, I needed this today! I firmly believe our dreams are in the depths of our very souls because God put them there and yes, since He put them there He cares about our dream more than we do…so why do I need others to love my dream as much as I do? This is a refreshing reminder that I don’t need that…I already have the only One I need loving my dream with me.
When we remember God is the Keeper of our dreams it should be easy to release them to Him. God will grow our dreams in His perfect timing and way. We are blessed to have the One we need loving our dreams with us.
So good to be reading your words this morning. Our God-given dream will bear fruit even if it looks differently in the end than we thought in the beginning. Such a good reminder. Afterall, it is God’s dream given to us and He will work out in His way and in His time. Needed to be reminded this morning! Thank you, Mary!
Thank you, Joanne! I love how God works to make everything good and that includes our dreams. God also likes to tweak our dreams along the way. He plants the seed and waits for us to step forward and watch it grow.
How wonderful to see the challenges as “markers on the way to our dreams!” This post is such a beautiful breath of fresh air. And I love the pictures you shared — from your missions trip?
I did share pictures from Nicaragua. It has taken me awhile to share this dream out loud with the writing community. Going on that trip was one of the hardest things I have done but God continues to show me the fruit from that experience. Blessings!
Thanks for this encouragement, Mary! There is something powerful in naming our dreams but I often have the same hesitancy you describe of feeling that others won’t understand. I love the reminder that God cares about our dreams and that he is with us as we take steps towards them.
It is reassuring to me to know that God cares about my dreams. He is more than willing to help us set them free in His timing and His way. I pray we feel a sense of security in knowing that God will care for our dreams as deeply as He cares for us.
I’m so glad you’ve allowed yourself to dream big dreams, even when you felt alone doing so, Mary. Because, as you’ve so eloquently pointed out, God is always with us–fueling and inspiring our dreams each step of the way!
It’s good to see you here, Beth! I am still learning how to dream big but mostly how to let God help me in the process. May we rest in knowing our dreams are safe and secure with God.
This bring me joy to think that Jesus DOES actually care more about my dreams than even me!
It does bring joy, doesn’t it? May we allow our dreams to bloom knowing God will care for them and allow them to grow.
Mary is a wonderful writer and dreamer! And, she is brave. I count her a very dear friend.
Thank you, Susan! My bravery comes from God who knows my deepest fears. Blessed to call you friend!
Great post Mary,
Our dreams are so important aren’t they! As adults we learn not to share because of the negativity that can be dished out.
But God is always interested! I am living my dream, shared in my “Tea by the Sea” post.
Jennifer
When dreams seem so very personal, it is hard to name them because we don’t want someone to tell us they are silly. But God truly cares and loves walking with us not only in the dreaming process but also in setting them free.
And He gives us or hearts desires!
God gives us or heart desires too, because He sets them within our hearts first! 🙂
Thank you Mary for such a beautiful reminder and encouragement. Even if we feel alone in our dreaming journey, God is always there by our sides. Thanks again and many blessings to you!
You’re welcome! I pray that you remember to dream and that you are never alone with God. He is always present and cares deeply about every part of who you are. I am blessed to have you here today.