In The Waiting
Mark 4:26-27 (NIV)
He also said, 'This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.'
What are your dreams? Not the night ones where you turn on a lamp and it starts raining peanut M&Ms and kittens. I mean your life dreams…passions…things you want to do.
When I was at uni, I had a passion for and felt God calling me towards a future in musical worship. I had played guitar since I was 13 and loved leading worship for youth and students at church. I finished with a degree in Music: Worship & Ministry and was so excited about what opportunities awaited once I graduated.
I had all sorts of dreams about music and what I wanted to do. Turned out, my plan wasn’t exactly what God had in store. I initially got frustrated by this and stopped playing music and going to church. I didn’t understand why God had not opened the doors after years of me leading and studying to serve him. After about six months, an opportunity to move to the UK came up and God finally revealed his plans.
Worship and music slowly crept back in after the move; it wasn’t close to what my dreams had been but that was ok. I was completely satisfied with where God had brought me. Gradually though, opportunities began to arise. A few months ago, I realised that God had fulfilled all my dreams from a decade earlier. As I thought about God’s genuine care for our dreams, it hit me that God had used those years of waiting to grow me into who I needed to be, in order to live out those dreams.
What I love about the verses above is that even in times where I am waiting or it seems as though nothing is happening, God is still moving and working. Wherever you are today, know that he cares for your dreams. He is working in them, in you.
Prayer — God, you know me, my dreams, my passion and what my heart desires. Today, I trust you with those. Even when I feel as though nothing is moving, help me to trust that you are working. Prepare me during this time of waiting and let me celebrate when they happen.