My family lovingly refers to my mother as the “expiration
police,” as she often goes through cupboards to ensure that nothing has
expired. If an item is close to the due date, my mom is sure to incorporate the
item to be used in some sort of dish before it reaches the “expiration.”
As I was reflecting on the dreams and hopes God has given to
me, I couldn’t help but realize that I have, in a sense, viewed seasons of “waiting”
with an expiration. I believe God has really grown my faith and taught me to
trust in Him, but it would be dishonest for me to say I haven’t placed stipulations
and “due dates” on my trust. The imagery of my hopes and dreams being placed “on
the shelf” in this season has caused me to ask myself, “How long should I really
wait to tap into these dreams?” “What would happen if I were to pursue the
promises God has given me without obtaining all of the right “ingredients?”
Would it work?
For those who have ever tried to make a dish without the
proper ingredients, you can probably attest to the fact that it didn’t turn out
quite right. You can’t bake cookies without the flour. In that same sense,
pulling God-sized dreams “off of the shelf” before God paves the way for His
promise can be detrimental. For example, if I were to be given my dream job
without any preparation or education, I imagine I wouldn’t be very good at it!
So then, what is the shelf-life of a God-sized dream? How do
you know when it’s time to take action? How do you know when it’s time to let
the dream sit “on the shelf?”
A friend of mine recently shared a verse with me that I
found to be so encouraging in this season. As it states in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by force
nor by strength, but by my Spirit.”
This verse was such a good reminder to me that God-sized
dreams don’t have an expiration date. Furthermore, I can’t “force” His promises
to happen in my time-table and my strength. God is faithful and fulfills every
promise, but it is done through his Spirit.
It is my hope that in sharing this lesson I am learning, others
are able to find hope and encouragement regarding dreams that have been placed “on
the shelf.” I urge you to not short-circuit the process of God’s promise. Trust
that God will do that miracle at the exact time it is supposed to happen. And
in the meantime, enjoy all that He is teaching you in your current season.
To the faithful, God is faithful. (Psalm 18:25)
Until next time,
Tamara
