Living in the Way

The Impossible Dream

By Kathy Albin, M.A., L.P.C.C.

For with God nothing is impossible. – Luke 1:38

...Dreams, plans, and even prayers can turn into expectations. When they are dashed, we can become jaded. We may wonder what we did wrong to deserve what has happened. Is God really there for us, or not? How can we believe anything is possible with God when it doesn’t always turn out that way? What good is our faith?...These questions make me realize how easily I can limit God. He is, of course, present in all these circumstances!

Above my kitchen sink is a stained-glass window hanging with an image of a hot-air balloon ascended over a field. Embedded within are the words, With God before us and His arms beneath us, we can face whatever lies before us. I have had this for years, given to me as a gift. The words remind me of those spoken to young Mary by the angel informing her that she had become chosen by God to deliver His Son. I am certain I received this window hanging back in my infertility days, as I hoped that one day I would beat the odds and become a mother. In those days I believed that if I just pressed on and had faith, then it would happen. For with God nothing is impossible.

Though I never did become a mother (not in the traditional sense, anyway!), eventually I learned to adjust to a different direction for my life than the one I had formerly imagined. I believe many of us have this experience in life, one way or another. Dreams, plans, and even prayers can turn into expectations. When they are dashed, we can become jaded. We may wonder what we did wrong to deserve what has happened. Is God really there for us, or not? How can we believe anything is possible with God when it doesn’t always turn out that way? What good is our faith?
Yet we can all cite examples, whether in our own lives or in others, where some things do work out as planned or envisioned. So is God there only some of the time?

These questions make me realize how easily I can limit God. He is, of course, present in all these circumstances! Just as Jesus taught us, He never promised this life would be easy (John 16:33), but He did promise to be with us always, until the end of time (Matthew 28:20). That means that whatever we are going through, God is with us through this life and beyond. That’s what I call the greatest support ever! But this may not mean the kind of support and help we had been dreaming of or asking for.

The hot-air balloon image I see every day at my kitchen window reminds me that God is really the one carrying and directing our travels above this field of life, though we each play a necessary part. I watch as my husband, a hot-air balloonist, pays close attention to the wind and other signs which will direct when, where, or if he flies his balloon. He has to know many details about the balloon and piloting. But he does not have complete control over which direction the balloon actually flies. His knowledge and skill can only go so far.
That’s like all of us. We can only direct our abilities, dreams, plans, imagination, and even prayers so far. Yet I believe we must have these to start out. I believe in having goals, vision, and dreams. I’ve always admired people who imagine they can do something, and then do it. Achievement of any kind begins with imagination, belief, will. At least this is what I’ve noticed. Without the will to do it, there is no action that follows. This is what separates doers from mere dreamers.

And I believe in having hope; because without it, life is meaningless. There is too much hurt, despair, injustice, and general evil in this world to make any sense otherwise. God needs us to join Him in making a difference anywhere possible, even in the smallest ways, and even if affecting just one life. Therefore He needs our prayers, so we can stay in close partnership with Him. He needs each of our skills and talents, so we can join Him in the great diversity of need in this world. And He needs our imagination, our vision, and our dreams, so we can join Him in making them even more possible. Even if they take a completely different direction.

Thank you, Creator Father, for your faithfulness and purpose for each of our lives.