“Dream on, dream until your dreams come true.”
Are these merely catchy lyrics to a 1973 rock classic? As I repeatedly hummed the familiar tune, my mind wandered to the responsibility we carry with our dreams. I don’t mean the lazy daydreams we have about saving the world with caped vigilantes. I mean the real dreams placed in our spirits that cannot be denied, those dreams we cannot run from for they chase us down fearing that we would rather choose to ignore them. These dreams that are the contemplations and aspirations we have, the hopes we have for a future.
Dream on, dreamer
For the longest time, I was convinced that there was no room in the world, not room in the world at large for dreamers, creatives and the hearts that stir for more than the logical. I’ve told myself to simmer down and be more reasonable, be less whimsical. There seems to be a societal expectation of how we should fit into the world, the roles we should fulfil and the manners in which we should fulfil them. I held myself to these societal restrictions for the longest possible time. That’s when I realised how completely irrational I sounded. The place to find answers to our innermost doubts is to delve into the Word.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis chapter 1, verse 1)
The solution to my personal doubts were found right there in Genesis 1. God created. It’s that simple. As much as it may seem illogical or even unprofitable to be a dreamer, a creative, or even hopeful in present times, we were created by a creative force. He formed our ability to create for He is creative. He gave us the ability to dream dreams, even those dreams that men may say will never come to pass. Our ability to dream and hope is in our very nature as being created by the Creator.
On the wings of hope
Think of your biggest dream. Whether that takes the form of a career ambition, the way your future family will look, the lifestyle you want to create or the novel you want to write, picture it so clearly that you can smell the coffee in your hand. What drives this dream? What brings it to the front of your mind? What keeps it with you even when you doubt yourself?
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek…” (Hebrews chapter 6, verses 19 and 20).
Our dreams are borne on the wings of hope. Our hope is firm rooted (anchored or fastened) to the fact that Christ has become our high priest. We do not bear our dreams and hopes fleeting sails that pass us by in high tides. No, we are fastened to a firmer foundation, a cornerstone that that is immutable.
Dreams expansive dreams
Who is truly qualified to say that your dreams are too expansive, too big to accomplishable? I believe that our hopes and dreams have been placed on our hearts for the purpose of fulfillment.
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” (Joel chapter 2, verse 28)
The hopes and dreams we have, no matter how inconceivable or unachievable they may seem to others have been gifted to us by the Greater One. The words and opinions of those who wish to tear down cannot compare to the greatness of God. Let’s not hold their opinions as a standard of qualification. We have been qualified in Christ. Dream your biggest dreams, pray life into them and chase them to their fulfillment. Now, think of your biggest dream, and dream bigger.
Dream on.
Crystelda Naidoo hails from South Africa. She is an avid nerd and an unapologetic dreamer. She has completed a BSc. Biological Sciences and BCom Hons. having majored in marketing, and has since launched the lifestyle blog - Selah Blogger - targeted at empowering women in their daily lives. The blog can be found at https://selahblogger.wordpress.com/
Crystelda Naidoo’s previous articles may be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/crystelda-naidoo.html