Originally published Sunday, 02 November 2014.
[A note from Wendy: Today I'm lending this space to Renee Fisher. A woman and a writer who knows what it feels like to lose sight of dreams and then have God birth new ones.]
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. Deuteronomy 8:2-5 (NIV)
Doubt kills more dreams than failure. (tweet this)
And yet, I am surprised.
Why?
I share in my new book, Dream Devotional, that “I can honestly say the times I’ve grown the most and have been the happiest were when I suffered the most. When I struggled to find my purpose. Those were the times I grew exponentially. Maybe they weren’t easy or glamorous, but God met me there. In the desert, He met me.”
In the desert.
God met me.
God has met me in the valley before, and He is meeting with me again! It’s humbling to think I haven’t quite learned this lesson. I should know it by now, right? I’m so glad that God knew I needed the reminder from Deuteronomy in my quiet time this morning.
I need help to stop doubting.
I am not ashamed to admit it.
My dreams of becoming a published author have already come true, and I am so grateful for that--so why can’t I trust Him with where to go next? I have a million questions on why traditional publishing didn’t turn out as I had anticipated. With that door closed, I see God standing ready with a new open door: self-publishing.
Since I’ve been published four times already (Faithbook of Jesus, Not Another Dating Book, Loves Me Not, and Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me)--I am reminded how much I actually love the creative process of writing, editing, and designing the book. In fact, I welcome it!
Instead of focusing on the negative (low book sales and rejection from my current publisher), I need to speak the positive that God made another way to continue the dream of writing down what He puts on my heart.
Maybe that’s why my heart needed to be tested.
At least that’s what I’m hoping!
I can continue on the journey. God has provided for me so graciously in the past, and I know that He will continue--even when it’s not what I anticipated or expected.
I love that Jesus is King over my dreams including the journey. The process is just as important as the dream.
That’s why the verse from Deuteronomy is so powerful. The Israelites journeyed with God. He never left them. He was with them the entire 40 years in the desert.
God doesn’t forget your dreams.
He walks with you through the desert all the way to the promised land.
Praise God that I am learning what it feels like to hunger again. I must continue to pray and wrestle through this new dream because God said He will provide for my needs--and He can (and will) provide for your needs too.
Question: Do you think God has forgotten your dreams? Why or why not?
Prayer: Dear Dream-Giver Jesus, Thank You for reminding me that you never leave me or forsake me when I am in the desert. Help me through the difficult places into the land of dreams and possibility. Show me the way. Grant me success on the journey, I pray. Amen.
More about the author of this guest devotional
Renee Fisher is a veteran blogger and author of five books including "Dream Devotional" (2014). She is the founding editor of DevotionalDiva.com, and a graduate of Biola University. Renee's enjoys running on sunny days in San Diego. She lives with her adoring husband, Marc, and their fur child named Star. Find out more about her at reneefisher.com
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- This was orginally published on my site in August 2014 to read more devotionals like this go to ilovedevotionals.com
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