Hold on to your Dreams

What are your goals in life? Or rather, have you ever considered making a goal for your life? It is one thing to have goals and be able to name those goals; it is another thing to merely say that you have. Baka hindi pa nga concrete ang goals na nasa isip mo.

Marahil nung bata ka pa naisip mong maging isang piloto, o doktor, o isang well-travelled businessman, o kaya naman maging presidente ng Pilipinas? Our dreams might be influenced by the people around us. Maaaring dahil nakita mong successful ang mga pinsan mo o kapitbahay sa respective fields nila kaya gusto mo na lang yung gayahin. O baka naman dala lang marahil ng udyok ng mas influential sayo kagaya ng mga parents mo kaya yun ang tinatahak mong daan ngayon ay sila na mismo ang naghanda. We have different stories, different paths to take – but it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to take a detour from what God has instilled in your heart since the time you started dreaming. Here’s my piece of advice – just keep your dreams with you, but allow God to shape this dream for His glory.

A sad biblical account that can be related to our pursuit of dreams can be found in Numbers 13-14, when the band of Israelites led by Moses sent 12 spies to Canaan to survey the land and to give reports. From this story, we will realize that:

1. Most of the time, our detractors will come from among us – not from outsiders

Nakakalungkot kasi out of the 12 spies, only two of them – Joshua and Caleb, brought good report. The rest of the spies spread out reports that is sure to discourage the people instead of cheer them up.

In our pursuit of goals, there will always be detractors – people who will discourage you rather than lift you up and cheer your spirit. But whose report will you believe?

Imagine, feeding the whole Israelite people with reports such as, “mga higante sila, para lang tayong mga tipaklong na titirisin nila” “mahihina lang tayo at di natin sila kaya, kumakain sila ng mga tao”. Who would not fear such reports?

In our pursuit of goals, there will always be detractors – people who will discourage you rather than lift you up and cheer your spirit. But whose report will you believe? Yung mga reports na alam mo namang exaggerated and sarcastic, or the ones that feed your faith and passion? Remember, detractions come not just from the outside, but might come from within your circle, your family and friends, or maybe from your own doubts and fears. Don’t feed yourself with discouragement. Munch on faith, not on fear.

“Sometimes, when we want something so badly, we fear failure more than we fear being without that thing.”
― Matthew J. Kirby, Icefall

2. Focus on the prize you are to receive, not on the price you are to pay

Pursuing your dream will cost you a lot of things – it will never be easy. If it’s gonna be way too easy for you to achieve, then it’s not a worthy pursuit. Kaya naman we ought to focus on the prize we are to receive, because it will justify all the cost. Joshua and Caleb might have lost some of their friends and relatives because they chose to focus on the prize of conquering Canaan at all costs, while the other ten spies and all the people who bought in their bad reports lost their opportunity to step into the Promised Land, and lost their lives as well.

If we’re gonna look at the challenges ahead, we’ll lose heart. Kagaya ng mga spies na kasama nila Joshua and Caleb. Nakatingin sila sa pagsubok na dadaanan nila, and they lost sight of the beauty of the “land flowing with milk and honey”. In reality, the greater the challenge, the higher the cost you are willing to pay for your dreams, the more value you are giving to it. The prize must always be greater than the price.

It’s just a matter of perspective.

3. Not because you are motivated to take hold of your dream doesn’t mean you are ready

It is a great misconception to think that just because you are so eager and motivated to take hold of what you desire most you are already able to take hold of it. God has his own timing and plans to ready you for your dreams.

It happened with the Israelites. They realized how great their sin of unbelief is, so they rushed to attack the “giants” they are dreadful of moments ago. Contextually, they were just being punished from their sin so their failure in subduing these “giants” is nothing but consequence. However, I believe that even if God had given them approval to attack their enemies, victory will only be ensured as soon as they are ready to receive it.

It is a great misconception to think that just because you are so eager and motivated to take hold of what you desire most you are already able to take hold of it. God has his own timing and plans to ready you for your dreams.

It happened with King David. He was anointed as a boy to be the next king of Israel, but he waited for the right time to succeed the kingdom. He never usurped God’s timetable. His waiting time allowed him to grow in maturity, wisdom and stature.

It happened with Joseph. He was given a dream as a boy, but his dream brought him to pit, then to prison and finally to the palace where he was able to fulfill his calling. His journey from pit to prison to palace prepared him to be the person God wants him to be.

It will happen to you and me. Just because we are given a dream to pursue doesn’t mean we are ready to take hold of it. We need to grow and mature muna.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Again what are your goals in life? Kung wala pa, ask God what He wants you to become for His glory. Kung meron na, always remember to keep your dreams with you, allowing God to mold you and your dreams to fit perfectly in His grand purpose.