Chasing Your God-Given Dreams
Bishop Leonard Chatham
Have you ever felt like your dreams were slipping away? Like you've lost confidence in yourself and your abilities? If so, you're not alone. Even great Biblical figures like Moses struggled with self-doubt. But God has a plan for each of us, and He wants us to pursue the dreams He's placed in our hearts. Let me share some powerful lessons from Moses' story that can help us regain our confidence and chase our God-given dreams.
The Power of Believing in Yourself
First, we need to understand that God believes in us, even when we don't believe in ourselves. In Exodus 3:10-11, we see this exchange between God and Moses:
"So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
Moses had a laundry list of reasons why he wasn't qualified for this task. He was a murderer, a fugitive, a backslider. He had failed repeatedly in life. But God saw past all that. He saw Moses' potential.
The same is true for us. We might have a history of failures or bad choices. We might feel unqualified or unworthy. But God sees our potential. He has plans for us that are greater than our past mistakes.
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
God's Plans vs. Our Doubts
Now, it's one thing to know that God has plans for us. It's another thing entirely to believe it and act on it. Moses struggled with this, and so do we. We often settle for less than God's best because we're afraid to step out in faith.
Moses had settled for a minimum wage job on the backside of the desert, even though he had the education and skills for much more. He had given up on his dreams. But God wasn't finished with him yet.
God often gets our attention in unexpected ways. For Moses, it was a burning bush. For us, it might be through our children, our job, or our spouse. The point is, God is still speaking, still calling us to greater things.
Recognizing the Potential in Your Hands
One of the most powerful moments in Moses' story comes in Exodus 4:2, when God asks him, "What is that in your hand?"
Moses replies, "A rod."
It was just a simple shepherd's staff. But in God's hands, it became a powerful tool for miracles. God used that rod to part the Red Sea, bring water from a rock, and defeat Israel's enemies.
What's in your hand? What skills, talents, or resources has God given you that you might be overlooking? Sometimes we're so focused on what we don't have that we fail to see the potential in what we do have.
Overcoming Fear of Success
When Moses threw down his rod and it became a serpent, he ran away. This represents our tendency to run from success. We're often more afraid of succeeding than we are of failing.
But God called Moses back, just as He calls us back when we try to run from our potential. He tells us, "Pick it up. Catch that dream."
Putting It Into Practice: Chasing Your Dreams
So how do we move from doubt to confidence? How do we start chasing our God-given dreams? Here are some practical steps:
Recognize God's call: Pay attention to the "burning bushes" in your life. Where is God trying to get your attention?
Identify your "rod": What skills or resources has God given you? How can you use them for His purposes?
Face your fears: Don't run from success. When God opens doors, have the courage to walk through them.
Take action: As one young person said about pursuing their dreams, "I got up and chased it." Don't just wait for your dreams to happen - actively pursue them.
Keep your "rod" lifted: Like Moses holding up his rod during battle, keep your faith lifted high. Surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you.
Remember, the same God who called Moses is calling you. He sees your potential, even when you don't. So pick up your rod, face your Red Sea, and start chasing those God-given dreams. As Jesus said in Mark 9:23, "Everything is possible for one who believes."
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