Dreams have to start somewhere.
You enter the race at the starting line like every other runner,
with no fast track to the finish.
Books are written and read one page at a time.
The corporate ladder is climbed one step at a time.
We see ourselves at the mountain peak, yet a “dream come true” takes their first steps at the base.
All leaders share a common story of small beginnings.
Don’t despise your small beginning at the lemonade stand level,
because dreams have to start somewhere,
so why not start with excitement at the beginning.
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”Zechariah 4:10
Your dream’s beginning is a perfect place to write and establish your vision as a road sign of encouragement for those to see who are running this race with you.
Small beginnings remind us that dreams are slow in “coming true.”
Runners grow weary when the finish line is further than they prepared for, a mile marker where some contemplate giving up on their dream.
But your vision’s road sign of encouragement will be that needed drink to quench their thirst of weariness along the way.
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end – it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESV
Small beginnings require confidence.
Small beginnings require a belief that we are qualified in the first place, a belief that God picked the right person for this dream job when the resumes of others scream more qualified.
When God hand selected Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt’s bondage into the Promised Land, Moses drowning in all of his self-doubt responded,
“I have never been eloquent….I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Exodus 4:10 NIV
“O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”
Exodus 4:13 NIV
Our God, who knows us more intimately than anyone else when He fashioned us in the womb, should raise a confidence from within that we are perfectly called.
A Heavenly Father wants a childlike trust that in our weaknesses,
He will be our strength.
…For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT
Dreams are a series of small beginnings.
One small beginning crosses paths with another small beginning, with God at times asking you to reach for more, to swim out into the deep, going beyond what feels comfortable.
Author and Motivational Speaker John Maxwell quotes:
To succeed in life, we must stay within our strength zone, but continually move outside our comfort zone.
When you least expect it, your lemonade stand adds a beautifully decorated table for the thirsty,
And additional yummies to the menu.
Small beginnings require faith and obedience for every step of the way that God has called us to take.
God speaks.
We listen.
We obey.
God speaks the next step.
Sometimes in the dream journey though, it seems as if
God has stopped speaking and gone silent, causing us to question the next step.
Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church
Asks the same question in his “Frequency Series” on hearing God:
“Have you ever been in a place where you felt you weren’t hearing God?
Then go back to the last place God spoke to you, and ask yourself, did you obey?”
This happened to Jonah as recorded in Jonah 1-3.
The Lord instructed Jonah to go to Nineva and preach to the people regarding their wicked ways, yet disobeyed and went to Tarshish instead.
A huge storm arose in the boat he traveled and Jonah found himself thrown overboard, swallowed into the belly of a huge fish and deafened by the silence of God.
When Jonah repented, the Lord caused the fish to release him then spoke again the same request that Jonah disobeyed the first time silencing the voice of God, “Go to Nineva.” This time Jonah obeyed.
Dreams can come true but we must remember:
Small beginnings can’t go any faster than “one step at a time”.
Welcome small beginnings, and not despise them.
Write and establish the dream’s vision as a road sign of encouragement for those that have chosen to run this race with us.
Be confident in our belief that God has called us to this dream fully and perfectly qualified.
Be expecting our small beginnings to cross paths with other small beginnings.
Be faithful and obedient to God’s voice and direction in every step.
Be in great anticipation beyond what you could have ever imagined.
Rejoice, because wild dreams from God do come true,
when we faint “not” in our steps of
small beginnings.
Lori, Once again you have blown me away with your writing gift! This has personally spoken to my heart, my dreams, and my small beginnings. I am still waiting for my wild dream to unexpectedly come true and become my reality!
Much Love!
Sandy
You are so sweet Sandy. Believing with you that your dreams have already come true. God has gifted us all perfectly.