My Dreams are Not the End-All, Be-All by Kaitlyn Fiedler
Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend about our current life stages- where we are currently in life and where we want to be. As women, we so often speak in the future tense, dreaming about the “one-days,” one day this, and one day that. Don’t get me wrong, hopes and dreams for the future are a good thing! But if I’m not careful, I can let myself be swept away in a fantasy of believing that my life will be better once my dreams are fulfilled.
Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15).
I can easily be restless and discontent saying, “once I have these certain dreams fulfilled or once I accomplish this or that, then I will be in a place where I can serve God with my all.” This type of thinking can lead me down the path of believing that having my dreams fulfilled will be the end-all, be-all.
Once I have a boyfriend…
Once I am engaged…
Once I am married…
Once I live in the place I’ve always wanted to…
Once I have X amount of kids or grandkids…
Once I have that job I’ve always longed for…
Then, and only then, I will be fully satisfied, content with life, and able to serve God fully.
Of course, we don’t actually come out and say it that way, but our hearts and attitude can reflect that kind of wishful thinking.
Chasing after our dreams as the end-all, be-all is only an illusion. We are left always longing, and never fully satisfied.
My dreams are not the end-all, be-all. Glorifying God is the end-all, be-all. And that’s what we should be pursuing no matter what our dreams have turned out to look like or not look like. If the Lord desires those dreams of ours to be fulfilled, then he will fulfill them in his timing. It’s our job just to follow him right where we are and trust that he’s got us.
It’s wise to be more concerned about the Lord’s will being fulfilled through us than our dreams being fulfilled. As much as we want that raise or that dream job, if we’re being obedient to God, he has us right where we are in this season for a purpose. And in his perfect will, he provides us with all that we need in due time.
Kaitlyn Fiedler lives near Greenville, SC with her husband and two-year-old son. She is a stay-at-home mom while pursuing her master’s degree in Christian Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She enjoys writing, traveling, and a good book. She gives biblical encouragement on her blog here: www.abeautifulbelonging.com and her Instagram account here: www.instagram.com/kaitlyn_fiedler.