Do You Dream About Me?

My 8-year-old son (soon to be 9) has a morning routine. He wakes up, stumbles down stairs and settles onto the couch to watch his favorite morning TV shows. When I return from my morning exercise I sit down next to him and ask two questions. I first ask him, “How did you sleep last night?” His standard response is “good.” The second question I ask is “Did you dream about Dad?” As of the writing of this post, I have always received a quick “no!” I smile. My usual response is “your dreams would have been better if your father was in them.”

I am not sure exactly how this morning ritual got started. I think my son has come to find a bit of the humor in it. At least, that is my hope! I began to reflect on this silly little morning routine recently. As I reflected, I celebrated my wit. I wondered if our little routine would make it into the lasting memory bank of his childhood. I then began to wonder what it would be like for me to be in his dreams (kinda disturbing).

My reflections on my son’s dreams soon lead me to consider my own, but not the kind I have while I am asleep. I began to consider the dreams and aspirations I have for my life. I wondered what it would be like if I included my father in them. I don't mean my earthly father but my heavenly Father. What if God asked, “What are your dreams? What are you dreaming about?”

We all have dreams. We all have some idea of what we want to be when we grow up or how many children we would like to have or what college we want to attend. Some dream of traveling the world, while others dream of a successful job and career. Dreams are as varied as the people who dream them.

Dreams are important. Dreams are important for people because they are connected to hope. C S Lewis once said "You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream." As time passes and life is lived our hope can wane and our dreams are not as vivid. People need hope! People need dreams! We all need something to look forward too. We all need something to inspire our living. What if God asked you about your dreams?

What if God asked, “Did you dream about me?”

How would you respond? My answer to God would resemble my sons answer to me. My answer is “no.” Most of the dreams, aspirations and goals I have for my life are mine. They stem from my desires, my hopes, and my goals. My dreams do not usually stem from faith. They do not include God. That means my dreams must be accomplished by me- in my own strength.

I wonder if God smiles at me and thinks, "your dreams will be better if your Father is in them."

Through the prophet Jeremiah God spoke to his people. He said,
"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." Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah sent a letter to the people of Israel who had been carried off by King Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon. The chosen people of God were in slavery. They were in a dark and desperate situation. They had no reason to think that their circumstances would change. If their hopes, dreams and future were solely based on what they could accomplish with their own strength they had every reason to despair, they had no reason for hope.

Against this dark backdrop God sent his word through Jeremiah to comfort his people. God said,"I have plans to prosper you, you will have a future, so have hope!" God let his people know that they should not quite dreaming, that they should not give up hope! The people of God are to be a people of hope because God has a plan to prosper them, give them hope and give them a future.

Are you facing difficult circumstances? Are you mourning the loss of a dream? Don't stop dreaming! Don't stop hoping!

Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane and wept. Jesus went to the cross and died. Jesus went through the deepest darkness any person could go through and on the third day he rose from the dead.

Jesus defeated the death of our dreams.

He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine....so go ahead and dream but dream with Jesus.

Christian- no matter your age, no matter your circumstances "set another goal or dream a new dream."