Imagine an entire army dispatched to bring in one lone prophet of God who had no visible means of protection! That is what happened to Elisha. One morning his servant was going about his daily duties when he glanced out a window and was stunned to see Syrian army forces camped around Dothan. He probably reacted much as we might have. He wrung his hands and cried out, “What to do? Oh, what to do?”

Calmly, Elisha replied to his distraught servant: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17).

The servant was viewing the whole situation through earthly eyes. Danger surrounded him and his master. Death, he probably thought, was imminent. He was certain they were all going to die! But Elisha looked out the window with spiritual eyes and with confidence in the protection of Jehovah-Ganan, the Lord our Defense. Elijah’s response was faith-based. God worked a miracle and blinded the enemy army. After the king of Israel treated them kindly, they stopped attack God’s Chosen People.

The outlook of Elisha’s servant changed dramatically once he was made fully aware of God’s protection over His people. What a blessing and what joy there was in the Israelites’ camp as their enemy was turned back, and God prevailed!

Storms do come to us even though we would much prefer that God hold them at bay. However as someone said, “Sometimes God calms the storm; sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.” If you, like me, have ever seen God’s profound protection during times of tremendous trouble, you have benefited from an unfathomable grasp of His divine protection that may have been missed had He simply spoke, “Peace, be still,” to the storm. It is in these times that our faith is multiplied, and we receive new and awe-inspiring awareness of God and His matchless love. God’s mercy and shield are more than enough to keep us safe in the stormiest of situations. Just remember, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

God never abandons or forsakes us. We may not be able to see Him at work, but that does not mean He is not there. Our faith is not based on what is visible in the natural, but on what is promised in the supernatural. I encourage you today to stand in faith, no matter what happens around you.

God can use weak people. He spoke to me in my spirit. “I want you to know Me in the fellowship of my suffering.” “No, Lord, I don’t want to know you in the fellowship of your suffering. I’ve already suffered too much.” He answered, “Then you can’t know Me in the power of My resurrection.” I later understood that when you’re willing to admit everything you’re not, God will take what you’re not and fill it with everything He is. When those two forces meet, you’ll experience resurrection power.

God had something marvelous that He wanted to do through me at that time, which the natural world can’t grasp—not even the “religious” world. They think you have to be filled with faith or have yourself all together to adventure with God. Want to know a secret? Generally, I’ve never been in a good place when God has given me dreams and used me.

Some people think, I don’t have any dreams… I don’t even have any ideas! Well, I have great news for you. God has plenty. And His dreams impact your destiny and the destiny of this world. You have to know why you were born. And the only one who can tell you the answer is the One who created you. Will you ask the question? Will you expect an answer—in ways that might surprise you? To live a life of dreams, you have to engage with The Dreamer. He has dreams for your life.

The greatest aspect missing from my childhood was not receiving any affirmation. But I later realized that what motivates me to pursue the dreams of God is His divine affirmation. When I see a God-inspired dream come to pass, I’m flooded with a sense of awe and gratitude. It’s like a slap on the shoulder from Father God saying, “I’m proud of you! Great job.” It’s the greatest high, and it all comes because of a dream. And with that affirmation come favor with others.

My daughter has been with me when I met with leaders of Israel, and many other leaders from all over the world. Every time she’d come out of these meetings, she’d cry in the car, “Dad, they love you! They respect you. They ask you questions. It’s beyond anything I could have imagined. You do have divine affirmation.”

I’ve been married 55 years to my best friend. My children love me. I’ve never dabbled in drugs or alcohol and yet had one of the most dysfunctional childhoods you could imagine. When you receive divine affirmation, it fills the quest to be loved. Only then can you focus on giving love.

I’ll be honest with you. I would never have chosen me. I was the most broken child you’ve ever imagined, and certainly not one who had any gifts. I didn’t go to high school. I never took a writing course, nor a speaking course. But God is crazy about me, and He’s crazy about you.

When I meet a person, I ask them two questions. The first, I already told you, “what’s your dream?” And the second question is, what are the two greatest days of your life? The answer to that question is “the day you’re born and the day you find out why you’re born.” I believe you may very well find out why you were born while you’re reading this. One word from God can change your life forever.

God has opened the door for you right now. Step through it and dream big and watch Him take the limits off your life and pour into you gifts that you couldn’t imagine as you take this journey with me. Take the limits off your life and relationship with God and dream big. We serve a big God and big dreams honor Him.

The Bible says,

“Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior”

(Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Do you want to be a victim or a victor? Do you want to be comfortable or a conqueror? Do you want to see “impossible” dreams come true, to the glory of God? Jesus is coming back as the King of kings. If you want to be a king, you’re going to have to be willing to commit yourself to sacrifice and suffering. Kings process pain and pleasure differently than other people.

The Bible says Jesus “learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

Scripture adds, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).

The apostle Paul said, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory, beyond all comprehension” (2 Corinthians 4:17). In his cell in chains, he looked at his own death sentence and suffering for Christ and said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). .

When you’re lied about and betrayed, and you forgive and remain silent rather than attempt to destroy the person who is slandering you, you still love them and suffer for Christ’s sake. The price of admission to change the world is unspeakable evil and betrayal, and when it comes, you cannot play the victim.

Are the things you’re living for worth Christ dying for? Are you willing to live your life in the light of eternity? The apostle Paul said that he wanted to know Christ and the fellowship of His suffering. If you truly want to change the world, then celebrate suffering and sacrifice. Seek the Jesus who shows up in the flames of fire.

It is in the quiet crucible of your personal suffering that your noblest dreams are born. God’s greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you’ve been through. You’re going to be betrayed. You’re going to be rejected by those you’ve loved the most if you choose the narrow path. How much rejection and pain and disappointment can you tolerate before you turn your back on the Savior? Beginning strong is not a sign of a surrendered life. Finishing strong is.

When things are going well, we see Christ as a conquering Savior. But when things go badly, do you still see Him that way? To be an overcomer, you must have something to overcome. If you don’t have an opponent, you don’t have a victory. Most who celebrate with you on the mountain will not be with you in the fire. Everyone wants a theology that celebrates those who get fire protection. How about a theology that celebrates those who choose to suffer in the fire and embraces a God who walks through the fire with us?

In one week, the crowds went from celebrating the Savior with their Hosannas to despising and rejecting Him. As the prophet Isaiah said, they hid their faces from Him. Jesus never hid suffering from His followers. He told them that if you follow Me, you’re going to have to take up My cross. The cross was a curse word. It was a symbol of shame. The Jesus I have found is more powerful in your suffering than in your celebrations. Sometimes He stills the storms, but most of the time He stills us in the midst of the storms. His word to you and me and this generation is the same: Take up My cross and follow Me.

Revelations born from suffering for Christ are the engines of God that fuel His eternal purposes on earth. It will cause you to see what He sees, hear what He hears, and do what He does. The Christian life is not about winning and being number one. It’s about Jesus being number one. If I must protect my name at all costs, my reputation at all costs, my career at all costs, my income at all costs, and my influence at all costs, it will lead to a self-inspired narrative (S.I.N.).

The Christian life is about surrendering all of our life for His glory and His story. That’s what I have learned about God’s dreams, and how they come to pass.  Sacrifice and suffering can fuel your dreams if you let them.

I’m asking you to dream big, walk on water, and step out by faith. That’s what Peter did when he was in the Galilee on the boat, and Jesus invited him onto the unknown. He stepped out by faith. Let’s read the story, and as you do, think about your dreams and what God is calling you to do. 
 
“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ “‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ 
“‘Come,’ He said. “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” “Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’
“And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
—Matthew 14:27-33
 
Peter did the impossible, even if only for a few steps. And notice, when the scene was over, and everyone was in the boat together, all the glory and awe were directed to God. Dreaming big and stepping out is not about you and me; it’s about bringing praise to God. When you have a dream from God, you have to step out by faith. The dream God gave me at age eleven didn’t come to pass when I was 12 or even 21. I didn’t see the real significance of that dream until over 20 years later.
 
God-inspired dreams make room for the impossible because God is the architect and the One Who fulfils the dream. Our role is to obey what He tells us to do. And you can have the assurance that God gave you that word. One word from God can change your life forever. Faith moves the hand of God and turns the head of God.
 
Obedience and faith in God’s dreams unlock His favor in your life and in the lives of those around you. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines favor as “regard shown toward another, especially by gracious kindness; a special privilege or right granted.” As children of God, we receive forgiveness and favor—His gracious kindness. Jesus humbled Himself in obedience to the Father. He gave His life so that you and I could experience forgiveness for sin. God’s favor rests upon Him and is released abundantly in our lives when we follow in Jesus’ footsteps. One important lesson to be learned: God bestows His favor so that you may live in the fruits of His blessing. When that happens, God is glorified and you are blessed beyond measure. 
 
Sometimes the biggest dreams move God to show up in the biggest ways. And, despite our mistakes and wrong turns, God’s dreams can come to pass.