The other day, I was sitting at the computer when Timmy came into the room. “Do you want to sit on my lap?” I asked him.
“Yeah,” Timmy said as I helped him climb up. “I’m a mountain.”
“Okay, Mr. Mountain,” I said.
“Actually, I think I’m a bear,” Timmy said.
“Okay,” I said. (We’re flexible around here.)
“Or a dragon. Yeah. Mr. Dragon.”
I love how kids can pretend to be something else. Only in their minds, they’re not just pretending—they really are that thing. As far as Timmy knew, he really could be a mountain for a little while. Or a bear. Or a dragon.
Yeah, a dragon.
Which makes me wonder … when did we adults lose our ability to believe that being something else is possible?
As we grow up, we become more practical, and we realize that we’re never actually going to be an Olympic gymnast, or an actress or a singer. This process is actually good. We need to be realistic about the abilities God has placed within us. But just because some dreams won’t come true doesn’t mean that we should stop dreaming entirely. All we need to do is replace our dreams with better ones, dreams that God births in our hearts or guides us to envision.
Maybe it is still possible to become an artist. Maybe God wants to bless you in a new career. Maybe He’s willing and eager to help you learn a new language, or finish that degree.
Or maybe it’s none of those things. Maybe the dream God wants to flourish in your heart is the dream of becoming the mom you always knew you could be. Maybe conquering a particular fear or insecurity is what God has in store for you. Maybe experiencing true joy on a regular basis is the dream God wants to make reality.
You’ve probably had to give up some of your dreams somewhere along the way. But God only asks you to give them up so He can replace them with something better.
Because the best dream is not necessarily the one we start out with, or the one we develop for ourselves. The best dream, the most satisfying one, is the one God dreams for us, and helps us dream it too. And then helps us make it reality.
What dream does God want you to dream with Him?
Jeremiah 29:11—”‘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.'”
Adapted from Megan Breedlove’s blog, Manna for Moms. Megan is the author of Well Done, Good and Faithful Mommy and Manna for Moms: God’s Provision for Your Hair-Raising, Miracle-Filled Mothering Adventure (Regal Books.) She is also a stay-at-home mom with five children.
