God of our Dreams

God of our Dreams

Growing up, I was always the tall kid in class. For years I was the tallest one of both the boys and the girls, as well as one of the tallest on the basketball team. This was problematic because my father taught me the ball handling skills of a point guard, otherwise known (as he would say), as ball handling skills every player should have. He believed in the fundamentals, and I had a natural talent and passion for them, which he was happy to nurture.

Then I played for coaches; many other coaches. And I was the big girl. That was where I fit. That was where I was told I belonged. Without much thought, all of my skills were tossed aside, because I didn’t fit the preconceived notion of the tiny, speedy point guard.

But I still did the drills…every single day. I honed my skills. I competed against and challenged myself for speed. My dad researched new and unique drills I could try, once I had mastered others.

By my junior year, my dad had become coach of our high school team, and he did something none of my coaches before had done, he utilized my gifts. Also, he found and used the strengths of my teammates. He thought outside the box, and instead of putting players into a mold, and telling us to stay where we belonged, he redesigned our offenses to fit  US. By my senior year, he took our little team of 8 girls; 1 who had never even played before that year, to the District Championship game, beating the 2nd ranked team in the state.

God had different plans for my future and basketball, but that’s another story, for another day. Besides, this isn’t really about basketball. See, the world will try to pigeon hole you. The world will try to put you in your place. Well-meaning people even, will try to tell you who you are, without even knowing, and if you’re not careful, you might start to believe them.

 

The nail that stands out, gets hammered down. They think you should act a certain way, say certain things, be someone that fits their perfectly shaped puzzle. Often, going through life, through the motions, underutilized, your gifts wasted, can feel suffocating. People will try to nail you down, right where they think you should be, when you know you are destined for more.  

Have faith. Don’t lose heart. He is the God of our dreams. God didn’t give you gifts just to sit on them. Maybe you need more practice. Maybe you need more direction. Maybe you just need to wait for God’s timing. Maybe (definitely) you should pray, and ask God to show you how your gifts can best be utilized.  God invented thinking outside the box. When we think we have answers or solutions, He shows us a way we’d never thought of before. His ways are not our own.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. ~Isaiah 55:8

The God of our dreams sees you. He knows you. He created the very dreams that are within you. So don’t cast them aside, not even for the world.