This column really spoke to my heart and I wanted to share it.
When God Has Something Better For You Than What You Imagined
by Kristin Smith
Just over a year ago I applied to be a part of the “God-Sized Dream Team.” I knew who Holley Gerth was from her posts and (in)courage but I was “small-time.” I had a little blog about my family where every once in a while I was inspired to write posts about my faith walk. I was pretty sure I didn’t have much to offer, but I applied and then honestly forgot about it.
January 2013 came with an email that I had been accepted, a Facebook community was started, and we had the opportunity to get an early look at Holley’s book.
In the beginning, Holley asked us what our God-sized dreams were. To be honest I wanted to finally have a blog that “mattered.” I wanted tons of subscribers. I wanted to be accepted by a blog network like BlogHer so that I could make some income off this writing and maybe someday write a book.
Sure I wanted to create a place of community, but I believed if it wasn’t “big-time” then it probably didn’t matter. I wanted to matter! You see I was basing the importance of my story on whether or not I could get paid to do it.
If I have a book deal then maybe I would finally be important, right?
But God worked on my heart in the weeks and months that that team grew. Personally, I found myself transitioning into a full-time job working with my husband in his new business; one that keeps us both very busy. It’s a business that is growing in ways that only God could make possible.
A blessing for sure – but this wasn’t my dream! This new business, new job didn’t get me any closer to writing a book or creating that post that goes viral. I thought I knew what MY dream was?
And I started to realize that sometimes our dreams change.
Sometimes where God wants us and where we think we should be are two different things.
I started to recognize that growing this business with my husband was important to my marriage and my family and THAT is what should take priority in this season of my life.
I realized that taking time away from writing was necessary…and it was okay.
I still have dreams of creating a welcoming space of encouragement and hope on my blog. I believe that we need to share our stories because they are important. And I have found this incredible group of women online who are helping me find and love community.
I am embracing the new dreams that God has laid before me and setting aside the “all about me” dreams that I once had. As I’ve done so, God has opened doors at home and online that I hadn’t thought possible.
My God-sized dream may not look like I had initially imagined when I penned it out in 2013, but God has continued to show me so much more and I am grateful!
If you find yourself discouraged because your dream isn’t playing out like you had hoped, take heart! Maybe it is because He has something even more amazing in store for you. Are you willing to step out and follow His leading?
January 2013 came with an email that I had been accepted, a Facebook community was started, and we had the opportunity to get an early look at Holley’s book.
In the beginning, Holley asked us what our God-sized dreams were. To be honest I wanted to finally have a blog that “mattered.” I wanted tons of subscribers. I wanted to be accepted by a blog network like BlogHer so that I could make some income off this writing and maybe someday write a book.
Sure I wanted to create a place of community, but I believed if it wasn’t “big-time” then it probably didn’t matter. I wanted to matter! You see I was basing the importance of my story on whether or not I could get paid to do it.
If I have a book deal then maybe I would finally be important, right?
But God worked on my heart in the weeks and months that that team grew. Personally, I found myself transitioning into a full-time job working with my husband in his new business; one that keeps us both very busy. It’s a business that is growing in ways that only God could make possible.
A blessing for sure – but this wasn’t my dream! This new business, new job didn’t get me any closer to writing a book or creating that post that goes viral. I thought I knew what MY dream was?
And I started to realize that sometimes our dreams change.
Sometimes where God wants us and where we think we should be are two different things.
I started to recognize that growing this business with my husband was important to my marriage and my family and THAT is what should take priority in this season of my life.
I realized that taking time away from writing was necessary…and it was okay.
I still have dreams of creating a welcoming space of encouragement and hope on my blog. I believe that we need to share our stories because they are important. And I have found this incredible group of women online who are helping me find and love community.
I am embracing the new dreams that God has laid before me and setting aside the “all about me” dreams that I once had. As I’ve done so, God has opened doors at home and online that I hadn’t thought possible.
My God-sized dream may not look like I had initially imagined when I penned it out in 2013, but God has continued to show me so much more and I am grateful!
If you find yourself discouraged because your dream isn’t playing out like you had hoped, take heart! Maybe it is because He has something even more amazing in store for you. Are you willing to step out and follow His leading?
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