Let Your Dreams Grow
Written by Jackie Tinkler
As I peeked from behind the massive dark curtain onto the expansive stage which overlooked rows of theatre seats, I was afraid and excited all at the same time. I was waiting in the wings for my turn to dance and what would seem like eternity. We practiced, we knew every step, and this was the night before the big night. Just one more rehearsal…
The lights were bright, the music was enchanting, and there was a scuffle of tap shoes hitting the stage floor with force and rhythm. It was all I could take! My nervous energy got to me, so I ran out on that stage and danced like I never have before. There was one slight problem. I made my entrance too early and found myself dancing with the wrong class. There was a sea of girls, clicking and clacking all around me and they had to be at least six feet tall.
“This is not where I’m supposed to be,” I thought, “but what do I do?” By now, I could hear astonished laughter from the wings. Instead of running off the stage, I continued to keep up with every step, dancing until the song ended. Did you get that? I kept dancing!
This story from my childhood dance recital resonates with fearless innocence. It was the first time, I believe, I was brave and fearless and learned not to quit when things got uncomfortable. I just thought, “I can do this!”
Some of us may feel what we are currently experiencing, our happy ever after, is not the dream we signed up for. How can our wonderful, joyful, beautiful dreams be mixed up in a difficult place like this? Fear beckons us to turn back and run! But God wants us to hang in there for the duration of the dance. Why? Because there is more and He knows you can do this! God’s dream is to watch us mature, be complete, and lack nothing. “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 NIV
In essence, we are permitting the difficulty or delay to create MORE in us so we can handle the promises of God through us with complete maturity and success. It’s as if we’re letting our dreams grow rather than letting them go.
“So, don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus.” 2 Peter 1:5-8 The Message
You see those tight, awkward, lonely, tough places are where our dream grows bigger…they are the very things that give us sparkle, add depth, give us strength for the future, and help to keep us ready for MORE.
Father God,
You are the author and finisher of our faith and life. When life gets difficult, give us the patience to keep going and not to quit. You see what’s ahead and the things we need to be successful on the journey. We place every dream, difficulty, and obstacle into your capable hands so you can create Something More in us.
Jackie Tinkler is the Co-Founder and Ministry Development Director of Something More and lives in Birmingham, Alabama. She has been ministering to women for 20 years as a Women’s Ministry Director, Counselor and Producer. She is co-writing a Women’s Small Group Study “Something Beautiful” and when not leading women to freedom can be found worshipping at Church of the Highlands, decorating her friends homes, enjoying time with her family and chocolate lab Nelson or sitting in the balcony at the Alabama Theatre.
Nailed it!!!!!
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