“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians3:20-21 (The Message)
When we review our life experiences we are tempted to limit our expectations – of ourselves, of others and of God. I recently watched a documentary where young African girls were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. They wanted to be doctors, teachers, nurses and lawyers. You then saw their external circumstances; living in shacks, struggling to get a decent education, not enough food and water and dealing with desperate family circumstances. I wondered how could they dream that big? Shouldn’t they just ‘manage their expectations’ and save themselves disappointment down the line?
God is not looking for you to settle – He’s encouraging you to dream dreams and blossom.
It’s not easy to dream when you feel it’s all up to you, but this verse reminds us that it’s God who can do anything. He’s the biggest dreamer there ever was. He’s been the inspiration for thousands of years of poetry, music, art, scientific innovation and social change. Wilberforce, the driver behind the abolition of slavery fought vested interests and overwhelming opposition because he dared to dream and trusted God to make the change in men’s hearts – and it happened!
Don’t limit your dreams to fit your circumstances – dream big because God can do anything!