God-Sized Dreams: Why We Can't Afford to Play Small

Have you ever felt God calling you to do something that seemed completely impossible? Something so big that you couldn't possibly accomplish it on your own? I've been there, and I want to share with you why those God-sized dreams are exactly what we need to pursue.

As we celebrated our church's 42nd anniversary recently, I was reminded of the incredible journey God has taken us on. But more importantly, I was challenged to look forward to what He wants to do next. You see, anniversaries can be dangerous if we're not careful. They can cause us to focus more on the past than on the future. Andy Stanley once said, "When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near." That's true for marriages, businesses, churches – you name it.

When we spend all our time reliving the "good old days" instead of pursuing fresh vision from God, we slowly lose our purpose and passion. Don't get me wrong – we should absolutely celebrate what God has done. But we can't afford to live there. The future belongs to those who honor the past but refuse to live in it. It belongs to those who hear God's voice and run with His dream with everything they've got.

 What Does a God-Sized Dream Look Like? Here's the thing about true God-sized dreams:

1. They're beyond your resources and abilities.

If you can accomplish it on your own, it's probably not a God dream. When God gives us a vision, it should be so big that we look at it and think, "There's no way I can do this." That's exactly where God wants us – totally dependent on Him.

2. They always carry risk.

Pursuing God's dream for your life will likely mean risking isolation, criticism, or being misunderstood. Just look at Noah – God told him to build an ark when it had never even rained before! People thought he was crazy. But he was just being obedient to God's seemingly impossible call.

3. They require faith to see what others can't see.

In Hebrews 11:1, we read that "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." When you're walking in God's vision, you'll be able to see possibilities that others miss.

Why We Need to Dream Bigger

Recently, God has been stirring something in my heart about the future of our church. We're talking about building a new facility that will cost over $5 million. When I first saw those Numbers, I felt sick to my stomach. How could we possibly afford that? But then God reminded me – we're not called to dream small. We're called to dream so big that when we look back, it could only have been God who accomplished it. In the book of Haggai, we see God challenging His people who had grown complacent. They had stopped working on rebuilding the temple, settling for less than God's best. God says to them: "Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? ... Look at what's happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes." (Haggai 1:4,6)

Does that sound familiar? Are you investing your time, energy, and resources into things that never truly satisfy? God is calling us to something greater – to be part of His story instead of just living for ourselves. What to Do When the Dream Seems Impossible So what do we do when God gives us a vision that seems way too big? Here are a few key things to remember:

1. Do what you can do, then expect God to do what only He can do.

Don't get paralyzed by the size of the task. Just take the next step of obedience, no matter how small it seems. Pick up another brick. Serve another Sunday. Give another offering. Keep showing up and doing your part.

2. Remember that God owns it all.

In Haggai 2:8, God reminds the people, "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine." When it comes to resources, God is not limited by our bank accounts or fundraising abilities. He owns it all and can provide in ways we can't even imagine.

3. Keep your eyes on the "what," not the "how."

Our job is to get clarity on what God wants to accomplish. His job is to figure out how to make it happen. Once we're clear on the vision, we can trust Him for the provision.

4. Believe that the best is yet to come.
   

God told the people rebuilding the temple, "The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory." (Haggai 2:9) I believe He's saying the same thing to us today – you ain't seen nothing yet! Putting It Into Practice As we look to the future, I want to challenge you: What God-sized dream is He placing on your heart? Maybe it's for your family, your career, or a ministry He's calling you to start. Whatever it is, don't dismiss it because it seems too big.

 Here are some practical next steps:

1. Spend time in prayer, asking God to clarify His vision for your life.
2. Write down the dream God is giving you, no matter how impossible it seems.
3. Identify one small step of obedience you can take this week toward that dream.
4. Find a trusted friend or mentor to share the vision with and pray together.

Remember, our church isn't meant to be a museum where perfect saints are put on display. We're a hospital for the broken, the messed up, and the ones who need God's healing touch. That's who we are and who we'll always be – a place where imperfect people can encounter the perfect love of Jesus. So let's dream big, church. Let's believe God for the impossible. Because when we do, we'll see Him do more than we could ever ask or imagine.

- PK
WBCC Lead Pastor