Today we marvel at the ‘self made man’. He is our hero and our motivation to wake up in the morning and do whatever it takes to achieve our dreams.
“The world is only what you make of it… it’s your oyster.”
“You can do anything you put your mind to.”
“There are no limits to your potential if you simply keep trying…”
“Started from the bottom now I’m here.”
This kind of rhetoric has intoxicated our generation unlike any other. It has built systems that magnify the possibility but overshadow the harsh realities as well. You might not want to hear this, but you were never made to live a life that you could build on your own. It would be a sad day if you got to the end of your life and said, “I did it all myself.”
I have been extremely frustrated with my life as a young person. The dreams and desires I have seemed to be impossible – out of reach. I see it in a huge section of this generation as well – students who have been sold a dream, only to be let down by the impossibilities they face. But the dream isn’t wrong. The journey to reaching it is just a little harder than everyone lets on.
God gives us impossible dreams
God has put the desire to achieve the impossible inside of us. He’s given us a hope for things that we would never be able to accomplish on our own for a reason: so that He can be included in our journey.
I honestly believe that our desires and dreams are pure. One of the ‘it’ words in faith circles in the last decade has been the word ‘agenda’. People have preached about guarding your heart and not having any driving passion for something out of your control. And as much as I understand what those people mean, there should never be a time when you feel guilty for dreaming. The problem is when you want to control how you get to that dream. That is agenda – wanting to make sure it looks a certain way.
God is more than capable
In my frustration and torment (for real – there were some dark moments), I turned to God and realized how misguided I had been. As much as I could try to do the right things, achieve the right marks, know the right people and be in the right places – there was no guarantee that I would be able to ‘move forward’ at all in what I am passionate about. It felt like I was running into a brick wall over and over again. So I decided to give up and rather look to God.
Just a little perspective adjustment:
– God created you. He knows your whole story – even the parts you have forgotten.
– God knows why He placed you in your situation. He knows your capabilities and your downfalls.
– God doesn’t only see all of you, though. He sees all of everyone around you as well.
– He knows the workings and struggles of every single system in existence.
– God owns everything – all the property, shares, livestock, accommodation, wi-fi and countries on Earth.
– He is the final authority in every sphere of life.
– God also loves you completely. He wants what is good for you – He knows best for your sake.
To believe all of this, you are going to have to encounter God personally. The only way you can truly understand your dependence on Him is if you connect with Him yourself. If you would like to do so, click on the link below to find out more.
God’s got you
There have been many moments when I have wanted to give up. I have been angry, frustrated, disillusioned and jealous – all of those fickle emotions got me nowhere. But every time I turned to God, I found myself renewed and strengthened to engage with the hard realities I had to face that day.
I can now write to you from the other side of this struggle. After seven years of taking on that frustration, God has come through. He does answer prayers. He does fulfill dreams. He does know best. I am convinced that nothing within those seven hard years was a waste – I have learnt valuable lessons about myself and others through all the frustration. I have learnt to value what God has put in my life. I have learnt how to have staying power. I have learnt surrender.
In the end, God is not as interested in what you achieve as He is in who you become. He cares about your soul’s wellbeing once you have finally ‘arrived’ at the moment of your dreams. I thank God I didn’t get what I wanted seven years ago – I would have made a total mess of my life and definitely would not be happy. So hang in there. God’s got you. When you can’t see forward don’t forget that you can always look up.