Dreams, Visions and Plans, Oh My!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

What happened to summer? How can it be September already?! What happened to all my summer plans of hiking, biking, possibly travelling, just lying out in the sun, summer bbq’s, movies and summer fun?! Whoever came up with the phrase “lazy days of summer” was very lucky indeed. I can’t tell if it’s gone by so quickly because I was having fun or if I was just too busy. When fall rolls around, I know I only have four more months to do whatever big or small thing I thought I might be able to do this year.

As a dreamer, I have a great many big schemes and plans floating around my head, and so the end of summer always reminds me of everything I haven’t done. Other reminders include my birthday or whenever a new year rolls around. Some of those dreams are my own, and some, I believe, have been planted by God. Those are the ones that I am most excited about. And all of them stress me out to some degree because they have been slo-o-o-o-w going. Time has come and gone, and nothing has come of my plans.

What I’m most afraid of is trying to hurry it along on my own time. The story of Abraham and Sarah trying to take plans into their own hands (told in Genesis 16) terrifies me, because I identify with Sarah so much. I don’t want to be impatient, but God, can we please get the ball rolling here? Other times, it feels as if there’s been a wrong turn taken somewhere along the way. Maybe I didn’t seek enough direction or wasn’t really listening and missed the turn.

Whatever the issue, I must take a deep breath and surrender, remembering that if these plans, dreams and visions are truly of God, then they will hold. As Psalm 119:89 (NASB) says, “Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.” I want to welcome God to direct my steps, keeping a watchful eye on Him. And I want a heart that says I will obey no matter what. In short, I must choose God.

There’s a song called “Climb,” by Will Reagan, and lately I’ve found myself singing (not just because it’s got killer harmonies). It’s based on the Proverb I shared above.

I lean not on my own understanding; My life is in the hands of the maker of heaven. I give it all to you God, trusting that you’ll make something beautiful out of me.

I have no idea where all the time has gone. But I’m trusting that by remembering to surrender all to God’s direction, He’ll make something much more beautiful and crazy than anything I can come up with. So with that, I’m going to enjoy what’s left of my summer, welcome the start of fall with a peace that surpasses all understanding, and marvel at the time God has given me.

Miel can be reached via email here.