Defending the Dream

If you’ve ever had a dream, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve had to defend it at some point.

Not everybody is going to be on board with the direction you’re headed. Some will guess you’ve gone crazy. Others might think you’re being reckless with your resources. Still others might assume you’re neglecting other responsibilities to chase a pipe dream. They may accuse you of being prideful for thinking you could achieve your dream or flat out tell you they don’t think you’ve got what it takes. Chances are, they know someone who failed at a similar venture.

And believe me, they will let you know.

So, what’s a girl to do?

Step one is to go back and re-apply a healthy dose of discernment. If your dream is from God He is the only One who must approve it.

Let’s look at Noah. I mean the man spent 100 years building a boat. In a land that had never before flooded. I can just hear the snide remarks of passerby…

What a fool!

He’s wasting all his money on that death trap!

Can you believe he really thinks God told him build that thing?

I bet it won’t even float.

Obviously Scripture doesn’t include these details. I’m extrapolating. I mean what would happen if we were to start nailing boards together in Central Park. You can bet we’d meet with plenty of opposition.

Noah pleased God, simply by walking with Him, before God gave him the plans to erect the ark.

Many a good dream, even God-dreams, have been shattered by detractors and hecklers. Sometimes, our own voices are the ones raising those very concerns.

But God doesn’t need us to defend Him or the dreams He has given us. He is perfectly capable of that all on His own. What He wants us to do by the power of the Holy Spirit is glorify His Son for the world to see.

But the world doesn’t know the power of God. #Dreaming Click To Tweet

The world may not see the need for what you’ve been called to do. The world may not understand why you’re pouring your heart and soul into the dream breaking forth from your heart. The world probably doesn’t get why you spend so much time praying, honing, gathering support, or trusting God to move on your behalf.

But the world doesn’t know the power of God.

And, here is the thing. You don’t really need to waste time defending your dream to detractors. If God has ordained it, He will bring it to pass. If He has not planned for your success in this matter, rest assured He will use even a failure for His own good purposes.

In Acts 5, we find the story of some apostles who had been imprisoned for teaching the gospel. An angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and freed them, giving instructions to return to the temple and preach about Jesus. As you might imagine, the Pharisees were greatly distressed upon hearing this news. One of their own, a highly respected teacher named Gamaliel, calmed the rest of the council. He cautioned the Pharisees to leave the men alone saying,

“So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God.”

Acts 5:38-39

Just imagine Gamaliel giving this advice to those who oppose your plans. Sometimes I’m the one who needs to hear this admonishment. I gain strength and courage from knowing that man cannot stop what God has begun. And that keeps me from allowing detractors destroy my dreams. Then I don’t have to waste time defending myself. Every minute spent explaining why we feel called to do what we’re doing takes times away from actually doing the dream. Let the results speak for themselves.

When we dream with God we do not have to defend the outcome or our efforts. We simply trust Him with the next step. The end result is His business. Faithfully responding to His prompting is our only responsibility. We daily lay the dream at His feet. He chooses if we leave it there or pick it back up and take the next step.

Where God has ordained success, man cannot impose failure.

Where God has ordained success, man cannot impose failure. #Dreams Click To Tweet

Don’t miss the other great posts in this series:

Daring to Dream

Discovering the Dream

Dreaming with a Dose of Discernment

Doing the Dream

Dreaming Doesn’t Mean Discontent

When Drudgery Dulls Dreams

When Dreams are Delayed

Death of a Dream

Laying Down the Dream

(re)Designing the Dream

And coming Soon:

Dreaming isn’t all Dandelions and Daffodils

Living the Dream

Dare to Dream Again

For more encouragement please join the discussions on these fabulous blog link ups – Suzanne Eller, Thought Provoking Thursday, Susan B. Mead, Faith Filled Friday, Grace and Truth, Faith and Fellowship Friday, Grace and Truth Friday, Good Morning Monday, Soul Survival, Monday Musings, Rah Rah Link Up, Tell His Story, Woman to Woman Wednesday, Women With Intention Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Testimony Tuesday, Planting Roots, and Fresh Market Friday.