Don’t despise small beginnings.
So maybe you’ve had some big dreams lately. You’ve been dreaming big and thinking big and you’re getting excited and then you look at what you’re doing, and you ask yourself: “Am I getting ready for it enough? Am I prepared enough?”
So, you start making lists of things you need and want, and you start thinking of what you could do, another thing you could do, another book you could read, another thing to research, and then suddenly, you’re overwhelmed.
Sound familiar?
Because this is where I found myself a couple of days ago. I’ve been wanting to prepare for my dreams, getting ready for those big things. There’s a wonderful verse in the Bible that talks about expanding your tents. Basically, get ready for the increase, for the dream to come to pass. Make room for everything that you’ve asked God for.
And there’s a part in that verse that says spare not.
So I said: “Alright. Let’s spare not.” So, I made lists and I started thinking about what more I could do and sure enough, I started feeling -
Can you guess what?
Guilty! Guilty that I wasn’t doing enough to prepare, that I wasn’t prepared enough -
My friend, when God tells you to prepare for things that you’ve asked Him for, I don’t believe our Heavenly Father means to get ready for everything all at once. That’s stressful.
I’m learning that Jesus leads us one step at a time, not fifty steps all at once. Because Jesus knows that if we see too much and try to take on too much, we get overwhelmed.
Friend, one step at a time. One thing at a time.
For example, I want some new clothes as I go into this next season of my life because I have a job as a teacher this fall! Oh, yes, by the way, I have a job as a reading interventionist! So it’s time to update my wardrobe!
And I had been looking at things online, at what I should get to prepare, and I started to get overwhelmed.
So my Heavenly Father gave me one step: clear out old things in my closet.
That sounds super basic and logical and not spiritual at all but c’mon guys. Not everything is super spiritual all the time. If I want new clothes, I should have space for new clothes. So I cleaned out my closet and now I have a basket of old clothes.
At first, I started to get discouraged.
That’s all I did? I asked myself. That’s it?
Friend, God doesn’t play the ‘enough’ game. The ‘you haven’t done this enough'. If you are getting discouraged that you’re not doing enough, rest assured, that is not Jesus. He can only lift you up, not cast you down.
So that’s when I need to say: “Yes! That is what I did! I made space in my closet! I enlarged some of my territory for the new things that I’m hoping for!”
One step. Next step: buying new clothes (that’s a really fun step).
My point is, friends, don’t try to accomplish every dream at the same time all at once.
You can prepare without being stressed. I mean, let’s look at a woman who finds out she’s pregnant. Chances are, she doesn’t find out three weeks before she has the baby (talk about stress). She finds out months ahead. She has time to prepare. She doesn’t have to have every baby blanket or diaper box bought yet. She can stock things one at a time. Every time she goes to the store, she can pick up a box of diapers. And by the time the baby comes, she’s probably going to have a crapload of diapers (which is good because babies use a crapload of diapers).
One thing at a time, friends. I firmly believe it is not the Father’s heart to overwhelm us - not ever. Do you know that when God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, He took them through a long way?
Why, when the Israelites were waiting so long for their freedom, would God take them a long way around?
Because the more direct route - this is so good - to go the direct route, they would have to pass by the Philistines - enemies. And they would see war. And God didn’t want them to see war, get discouraged, and turn back to Egypt. Did you get that? God didn’t want His precious people to get discouraged and go back to their bondage!
So even though it took longer, God was protecting people from discouragement.
So if you’re feeling discouraged, know tonight that in no way, shape, or form is God trying to make you feel discouraged or guilty enough for you to follow your dream.
No, no no-no. In fact, it may feel like you are taking the long way towards your dream. That’s okay. Keep walking towards your Promised Land step by step.
Take the first step and God will show you the next one. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this: “God doesn’t move a parked car”. But it’s true! God is a perfect gentleman, and He won’t make you move. He waits for you to take the first, and when you step out in faith asking “what’s next, Papa?” He shows you the next step. Don’t despair if it’s small, like cleaning out your closet. Start somewhere.
Instead of getting every book about building your business, start with one.
If you want to blog, start one blog post at a time.
Friend, listen to me. We all know the saying: “A journey starts with a single step”.
God doesn’t want you to be overwhelmed. He doesn’t want you to get discouraged and look back at your bondage and say ‘I could go back’. No. One step at a time. Don’t get discouraged if you see nothing happening. Don’t be discouraged if you seem to be walking slowly.
Because in case you didn’t know, the Israelites made it across the Red Sea.
So friend, relax. If you are feeling stressed trying to accomplish all your dreams - know that’s not your Father’s heart. Oh, He wants you to fulfill your dreams, more than you know! But not at the expense of your joy and space. Step back. What are you doing that’s too much? Are too many things calling your attention?
You should have dreams. God wants you to have dreams. Lots of them. But you were never meant to fulfill them all at the same time.
One thing at a time. Focus on one thing at a time. Get the one step, and then you will get the next step, and soon, you will find yourself in the wide-open spaces of the Father’s love.
Friend, rest easy tonight knowing that your Heavenly Father only leads you to life.
Remember, you are deeply loved.
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