I often hear two extremes within the Christian community when it comes to the subject of dreams and desires. One is that humility demands that we abandon our dreams. We should give up ambition, desires, or plans that would make us stand out. Mediocrity is wrongly associated with humility, but our God is not a mediocre God. On the other hand, there is a popular theology that God is there to make all our heart's desires come true. Unfortunately our heart can be misinformed and deceitful, and our desires can be in conflict with God. Neither of these extremes reflect the truth of God's work in our lives.
I want to take the second extreme first. The world is constantly feeding us dreams and desires that are at war with God's wisdom and righteousness. This is especially true when faith and nationalism are mixed. The American dream has much to be said for it, but we must never forget that it was the invention of fallen men. No matter how well informed any founders are, their vision must still be developed, adjusted, and transformed by the gospel. The desire for peace and prosperity can become excuses for selfishness and abusive self-protection if they are not tempered by a strong desire to see God's justice realized for all.
Too often, today's American dream is shaped by consumerism. We are told in numerous commercials and billboards what success is. We are sold an ever-changing and superficial image of beauty to sell products (compare the magazine images of women from different decades to see just how much our vision of beauty is manipulated). We are told daily what we should desire if we want to be seen as significant.
God is a good father who gives good gifts. He will not give us everything we desire because he knows some of those desires will diminish, twist, and even kill us. We need to take time to slow down and bring our desires out into the light. Sit down in prayer, with paper and pencil, and let God help us see what is driving us. God is kind and gentle. His goal is not to humiliate us, but to help us see what is driving us, so we can make conscious decisions about our lives. The harmful, dark, and conflicted desires will be weakened by the light, and the power of his Spirit will allow freedom and growth.
But this doesn't mean the death of dreams. We are made in the image of God. We are to be creative and loving people that make a difference in the world. Too often democracy is twisted into the idea that no one should stand out or do better than anyone else. In fact, we are gifted to stand out in very different ways. We are one body with individual gifts that add value to each other.
I work with students who dream of curing major diseases someday. That's a good dream and should never be hidden. I have also known men and women who have used their gifts to transform neighborhoods, to serve in PTAs to help shape the lives of students, or as scout leaders. They have changed the character of the life around them and should never be dismissed because others thought their ambitions too small. The body of Christ, the village, the city, the nation, even the world needs it all. It's all significant.
That's why dreams and desires are so important. It is important that we choose them well, because they have the power to build up or destroy. They define so much about you. It is also why we don't rank each other's dreams if they are from God. We don't despise a dream because we think it's too grand or to ordinary. If they are from God, they fit and they are important.
Our dreams are too important to be neglected or to leave them unexamined. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Dreams shape our heart. If you take your dreams out, examine them with God, and ask for his guidance, he will shape your dreams. But you need to take the time.
"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:3-4
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