For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Jeremiah 29:11 (AMPC)
We often feel excited to share our dreams and goals with others, but it’s important to consider when and with whom that sharing is appropriate. But why shouldn’t we share our dreams with everyone? Isn’t it natural to expect others to be happy and excited for us, too?
The reality is that some dreams and goals can be shared freely, while others should only be entrusted to wise, trusted leaders who offer guidance. Still, there are certain dreams best kept sacred in our hearts, between ourselves and the Lord, as they unfold at the right time.
This is because we can’t always share our dreams openly; others may not understand, might try to discourage us due to their own insecurities, or fail to see how we will achieve them. Beyond the reactions of others, we also have an adversary who may try to sabotage our dreams through people or circumstances.
It’s vital to be Holy Spirit-led about what, when, and with whom to share, and to guard what the Lord speaks to our hearts. When we are led by the Holy Spirit and keep ourselves under the shadow of His wings of protection, our dreams will remain protected, no matter the challenges we face
Manifestation of Dreams is taking time.
We might even feel at times that the manifestation of our dreams is taking a long time. It could be due to the timing not being right, or we may be missing something in our own lives and need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas we have missed.
Most of the time, it’s because we haven’t developed our character enough to handle our dreams. Depending on the dream, God will encourage us not to walk in it until we have developed a full dependence on Him and our character reflects Him.
There are individuals who have carried and kept their dreams hidden in their hearts for decades before they saw them manifest, but when the timing was right, they had developed their character to handle it, and it took off quickly and unfolded before others, quicker than others’ experiences, and has been going strong.
There are individuals who have set out to fulfill their dreams, but because their character wasn’t developed, they ended up falling. That’s when we need to come alongside them and love them and encourage them to take time with God for healing and to develop their character, and then head back out at the right time.
We have been so quick to point our fingers at individuals who have made a mistake and tear them down. Which shows that our character hasn’t been fully develop too. Because if our character, especially the fruit of love, has been developed, we wouldn’t act like a savage wolf tearing people up, but come along beside them and help them.
We are known as God’s true disciples by walking in love, according to John 13:34-35.
34 I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.
35 By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
Another reason we may have been quick to point fingers at others is that we had put more faith in them than in God. We can’t put any faith in man, as man can be fickle at times. We keep our eyes, trust, and faith in God as our main source in every area of our lives, and what we receive from man, we consider a bonus.
What we have received from the individual who has made a mistake, don’t throw it out, but be grateful for the moment that it was a blessing in your life.
Our Dreams will come to pass.
If we stay humble, keep developing a close, intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, grow in character, and walk in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will see our dreams come true. We keep our dreams before our eyes, pray over them, and ask the Holy Spirit what we are to do to develop ourselves to walk in them.
There are stories in the Old Testament we can read to bring us encouragement to hold on to our dreams and keep them sacred in the Heart of God. Read about Abraham and Sarah, starting in Genesis 12: how it seemed impossible for their dream to come true, but through their faithfulness to God, it did.
Read about Joseph, starting in Genesis 37, who went through so much, but he kept his heart faithful to God and walked in a powerful leadership position. Though I wonder whether his life would have looked different and whether he would have entered the leadership position in a different way if he had kept his dreams close to his heart, trusting the Lord to fulfill them. Just things I think about at times.
Let’s keep our dreams sacred in God’s Heart and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in which visions and goals we can share and which to keep only between our Heavenly Father until the right time. And in the meantime, we focus on developing our character to look and act more like Jesus. And saturate ourselves in His Word and Prayer.
