Why Dreams Are Necessary….

Dreams are defined as a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep. Dreams are also defined as a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal. For the purpose of this post, we will reference the second definition of dreams. Most of us at some point in our lives have dreamed or aspired for something. It’s a fair assumption that whatever the aspiration was, its intended purpose or goal was to somehow improve your present reality in some way or another. Looking ahead for a greater tomorrow is usually the premise of a dream.

My Dreams

When I was a little girl, I had dreams of growing up and being successful in my career, being beautiful, married with children and traveling the world. I would get excited just thinking of the glamourous future I had envisioned. Singing on big stages and meeting some of my favorite artists was a dream.

Graduating from college, starting my career, being a business owner, meeting new people and having successful relationships were all just dreams. Well in the midst of all my dreaming there was a very present, very real, challenging reality. Life in my younger years was no cake walk. My family went through health and financial challenges that no one would believe.

Living in a poverty stricken, high crime neighborhood, I dreamt. Sitting as the introverted, chubby nerd, in the classroom, I still dreamt. Sometimes the utilities were off at home, groceries low, and no hope in sight, but I still dreamt. I daydreamed about the days when we would have a car that didn’t break down or live in a neighborhood where we didn’t worry about our home being broken into. I dreamt about living in a house with no leaks in the ceiling or wildlife living in the attic or between the walls.

Truly, you guys don’t know the half. I saw my mother get up every day and go to work. Every day she cared for her parents, and every week she continued to pursue her education. She made sacrifice after sacrifice despite the difficult realities of being a single mother. And in many ways I think her trying to pursue better in such dark times is what inspired me to dream.

Dreaming in the Present

Fast forward to today, I am still dreaming. But what’s so crazy about my dreams today, is that they are even greater than the dreams I had way back then. The reason for that is because everything I dreamed back then has already come to past (minus the children). That’s mind-blowing right! At just thirty years old, God has surpassed every dream I ever had for myself as a kid and more. I don’t have to box myself in, but rather I am open to dreams I didn’t even know I had.  Now let me tell you just why dreams are so important. Dreams are aspirations for greater. Dreams are hope. Hope is the one mandatory ingredient for faith. Hebrews 11:1-6 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The things I hope for that I cannot see are dreams.

I merely envision things I desire. I imagine things I want to be true in an alternate reality of the future. That is hope. Hope keeps us believing and pressing toward a greater future. Without hope, we have nothing. But with hope, we have endless opportunities for God to do things far greater than what we even hoped for. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” God’s word tells us just how powerful our hope and belief are. Belief and hope that He can and will do great things in our future is the power that we must put to work in us.

I said all that to say, keep dreaming. No matter what harsh realities you are facing in your today, decide to dream about tomorrow. Continue to hope things get better. Keep believing things will improve. This is your faith in action. I can assure you, that whatever you hope for, if it’s of good and not evil, God will bring it to past. He has done so in my life, and he is still doing it for me today. I am just crazy enough to believe that he isn’t through with me yet. My dreams just keep getting bigger and bigger. Some may say this all sounds ridiculous, but I beg to differ. It sounds hopeful.

Here’s a previous blog post that also speaks on the value of dreams.

Take a listen to one of my husband’s twenty year old dreams realized. https://youtu.be/0-tgwJV9hVo

Also, check out this inspiring video that encouraged me this week.