I’m a dreamer, a big vision, eyes wide-open dreamer. I tend to look at the impossible and say, “I got this, there’s nothing I can’t do.” Just call me an “independent woman” because here I come ready to tackle the most difficult of things!
That being said, for the past few years of my life, I have been the big dreamer with a certain exclusion tagged on to it. The Lord would give me a passion for something, a dream to do something big and I would respond by saying, “Yes, Lord. I will do that…as soon as you give me a husband.”
I still have the big dreams and I’m still walking around with a naked ring finger, so telling God to give me a husband before I follow the desires He has for me was a huge failure.
For so long, I used my singleness as an excuse to not follow the big dreams that God has placed in my heart, putting life on pause because I wanted a husband by my side. I acted as though the God who gave me those dreams wouldn’t be able to carry me through them.
Eventually, the Lord showed me how wrong those thoughts were. He showed me that I was not trusting in Him and I was living in fear of what could happen. So, I started memorizing and repeating Scripture back to myself on a regular basis.
I started looking at those big dreams with 2 Timothy 1:7 playing in my mind and reminding myself that if this is what God desires for me, He won’t lead me astray.
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
This is when the Lord helped me take my life off pause and push play on the dreams and passions He has given me.
Hitting the play button was a lot easier when I trusted in what God wanted for me. With that in mind, I can happily say that the play button has been pressed and the dreams and passions God has given me are happening.
In May of this year, at age 24, I purchased my first home. Of course, I didn’t go small. I purchased a 1920’s 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home on a double lot that needs a lot of love, and I watched God remove every obstacle that would hinder me from purchasing it.
It was incredibly scary and still is. I keep asking myself what I was thinking buying a house that large that needs a lot of work when I’m a single woman working for a small ministry. Then I remind myself of 2 Timothy 1:7 and my fears seem to ease as I trust in God more.
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
With a house that large, I certainly need something or someone to fill those rooms! This is where God hit play on another passion He had given me. It has always been a great desire of mine to be a mother and also to love the “unlovable.” God gave me a huge passion to become a foster parent and to show Christ to children who have never experienced His love and joy before.
This month, I was certified to become a foster parent and welcome the “unlovable” into my home. In fact, I have been waiting, slightly impatiently, every day for the call to take my first foster care placement.
It was a long process and the idea of being a single foster mom is beyond frightening, but God did not give me a spirit of fear and with Him I can jump into this dream with both feet and push play knowing that He will provide everything I need to make it through.
I am continually working to take my life off pause, do away with a spirit of fear and instead walk with the power, love and sound mind that God has given me. I have learned that my singleness is not an excuse to put my dreams and passions on hold but rather a time to trust in God fully because He is all I have to rely on.
So, I ask you, is there a dream or passion God has given you that you need to push the play button on?
If you know someone who keeps pressing the pause button on their dreams, would you email them this post to encourage them?
