IT WAS EASTER SUNDAY during my “sabbatical” time, still looking and waiting for God’s direction on what’s next. Our pastor, Scott, was preaching and his words struck home. He said that we as humans, like the disciples, often “constrain God.” We put limits on God and what he can do for us. We view the world through “our reality” of what we see and know from our experiences. His example was the disciples, whom Jesus had told that he would be killed and rise again, but they didn’t believe. They had seen him raise Lazarus from the dead, but their view of reality was that it had all ended on the cross on Good Friday. Their view and our view often doesn’t match “God’s reality,” which is beyond anything we can imagine.
When I heard those words, I realized I too sometimes constrain God, especially on this job search. Maybe you’ve done it too. I don’t do it intentionally, but I know I’ve done it. How do I constrain God? I believe I don’t dream big enough dreams and then I compound it by not believing he can fulfill the dreams I have. I think it’s a natural reaction to what’s happened in the past. We tend to remember the painful and difficult times in life more than we remember the good times. I was emotionally hurt when I lost my job. There’s a good chance you were hurt too. Once hurt, we don’t want that to happen again, so we try to protect our emotions. If I dream small dreams, there is a better chance God can fulfill that dream and I won’t be disappointed. Notice how I put a limit on God, constraining him and his power. Yikes!
But our God is a God of limitless power. He can do anything he wants to do. He wants my dreams and he wants them to be big dreams. Don’t dream to find “a job”; dream the dream that is “the job you’ve always wanted.” Scripture is full of God’s promises to us, let me share three with you.
In 1 John 5:14-15, he says, “ask anything” of him, not ask what seems reasonable. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
God has something amazing in store for me and you. In 1 Corinthians 2:9 we’re told it’s beyond what can be imagined.
“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him.”
Love God and believe in him.
During your struggles on this journey, remember that nothing is impossible for God.
“For nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37
So, take your constraints off God, dream big dreams, pray for them and then believe he can do it for you!
This week’s blog is an excerpt from How Long, O Lord, How Long? Devotions for the Unemployed and Those Who Love Them , By author Dale Kreienkamp.
