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Just. Keep. Swimming.

March 30, 2016 By Lanette Haskins 10 Comments

Oceans for GSD
Several years ago there was a commercial in which a husband casually mentioned quitting his job to start a blog and his wife quickly responded with a resounding NO! I would jokingly ask my husband if I could quit my job and start a blog and of course his answer was also no. It wasn’t that he didn’t want me to do something that I loved, but realistically, I needed to have a full-time paying job.

I started my blog anyway (while I continued to work) and began writing on a regular basis.  The feedback from those early days was a tremendous encouragement. 

I started to believe that my dreams might come true.

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Doors began to open, and I continued to write and continued to be encouraged. I even had a short story published in a friend’s book.

And then a few years later something happened. The publishing company that I worked for was doing some restructuring of departments, and what I had hoped was going to be a promotion was something entirely different and completely unexpected.

My position had been eliminated.

As hard as those words were to hear, I’m sure they were just as hard to say. At the time I thought that was the end of me — or at least the end of my dreams.

Isaiah 55:8 (MSG) “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, so will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.

Usually when we come to the end of ourselves that’s where we find God.

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After I had some time to process, I realized that this could be an answer to prayer. Shortly after receiving the news about my job, I was asked to be a contributing writer for God-sized Dreams. While this was not a paid position, it was certainly an honor to have been asked to write alongside these amazing women. The door was opening to my God-sized Dream, and I couldn’t wait to see where He was leading me. I was doing what I loved. I was writing.

Gradually I became distracted by other things (good things) that started to consume my time, and writing was pushed aside.

Even as I contemplated writing this post, I wondered if I had anything to contribute, especially in light of this month’s theme — Practical tools you use that help keep you organized and motivated to work on your God-sized Dreams.

To be honest, I didn’t feel as though I had anything to share because I wasn’t using any practical tools. I certainly wasn’t organized, and I had been sorely lacking in motivation.

Here’s the thing — I’m not here to tell you what tools to use to succeed, I’m here to tell you that if you feel like you’ve failed (again), or missed the boat, or that your storm is too big and overwhelming — I am right there with you. I completely understand. And I want to motivate you to pursue your God-sized Dream again! Don’t give up, no matter how many times you’ve started over.  Your God-sized Dream is there for a purpose — for you and for others!

Just. Keep. Swimming.

You can do this. We can do this.

2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV) But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

Those storms in our lives, the circumstances that we have no control over, the very situations that we think just might destroy us are oftentimes where we find our purpose. And our purpose becomes clearer as we begin sharing the stories of our storms and how Jesus saved us from them.

Friends, start by not giving up, and then use the tools that the Holy Spirit reveals to you to make your God-sized Dreams come true.

Shared by: Lanette Haskins

                                                        

p.s. We launched our God-sized Dreams shop! It contains five downloadable prints created just for you. We hope they inspire you to chase after your dreams! We’d love for you to check them out! And as a thank-you to our email subscribers, once a month we will randomly choose one subscriber to receive a FREE print!

Dream. Shop. Inspire. God-sized Dreams new print shop!

Related

Filed Under: Fears Tossing Your Dream, The Dream Journey, The Ups and Downs of Dreaming

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Lanette Haskins

About Lanette Haskins

Lanette Haskins is a writer, a speaker, an artist and a dreamer. She is passionate about leading others out of shame and guilt by sharing her own story of Christ's redeeming love as she navigates this ocean of His unending grace. Lanette lives in West Michigan with her husband, children and grandchildren. She blogs at Your Grace Found Me. Is a contributing writer for God-Sized Dreams and also writes for SoliDeoGloriaSisterhood. She can be found on Facebook andTwitter.

Comments

  1. AvatarAliyah says

    March 30, 2016 at 9:02 am

    Hey Lanette, your words mattered to me today, thank you. I’m going through stuff with writing and this morning my husband came and told me “I just feel to tell you don’t give up!” your words today were confirmation, thank you! Aliyah

    Reply
    • Lanette HaskinsLanette Haskins says

      March 30, 2016 at 9:18 am

      So glad to hear that God used the words He put on my heart to confirm to you to not to give up! Thanks for sharing Aliyah!! ????

      Reply
  2. AvatarCrystal says

    March 30, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    What an encouragement this is to me and other dreamers out there. It’s amazing how God leads us in His direction in unexpected ways, sometimes ways that appear detrimental to us, but God knows what He is doing. Your words spoke to my heart this morning. Much love Lanette.

    Reply
    • Lanette HaskinsLanette Haskins says

      March 30, 2016 at 7:30 pm

      Yay Crystal! Thanks so much for sharing that!! You have encouraged me! ❤

      Reply
  3. Avatarwoundresser says

    March 30, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    What a sweet “word” for my day. Such a God moment! I thought of the story of this story. “In 1952 Florence Chadwick attempted to swim 26 miles from the coast of California to Catalina Island. After 15 hours, a heavy fog began to block her view, she became disoriented, and she gave up. To her chagrin, Chadwick learned that she had quit just 1 mile short of her destination.” She later tried again, only that time she just kept swimming! Thanks so much for the encouragement! Molly

    Reply
    • Lanette HaskinsLanette Haskins says

      March 30, 2016 at 7:32 pm

      Oh I love that story Molly! Thanks so much for sharing and encouraging all of us!!

      Reply
  4. AvatarAmy says

    March 31, 2016 at 2:25 pm

    What encouraging words, Lanette! Thank you for sharing your story, it is an inspiration for those of us who fight those doubts and think we should give up when it doesn’t seem like anything is happening with our dreams.
    Blessings!

    Reply
    • Lanette HaskinsLanette Haskins says

      April 6, 2016 at 8:34 am

      Thanks Amy! God’s timing is perfect – even when I feel like I’ve missed an opportunity, He never fails to provide another…
      Blessings to you!

      Reply
  5. Avatargeneralkat says

    April 1, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    I felt encouraged by your words.to never give up on my God-sized dreams. I am a newbie writer and completing my first work. It is hard work as I rewrite and then submit to a critique group who give more advice on rewriting! It frustrated me to keep changing my words, but then God showed me how suffering and difficulties are necessary. We are all given opportunities, whether good or bad, that can improve our outlook or bring us down into defeat and disappointment. I choose to apply myself to re-write as many times as possible in order to find a positive outcome. If I never publish this work, I can live with it, but I will finish the race and obtain the goal of a fully written manuscript.

    Reply
    • Lanette HaskinsLanette Haskins says

      April 6, 2016 at 8:39 am

      I’m so glad you were encouraged friend! Just keep pushing through – the editing process is the hardest for me!
      God will use it all for our good ????

      Reply

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