Dare to Dream
Every now and then you come across a quote that is so powerful that it has to be shared. When I was in Iraq, Capt. Luke McConnell gave me a copy of Teddy Roosevelt’s speech called, “The Strenuous Life.” Former President Roosevelt gave this speech in 1899 but his words still apply to a great deal of us today.
He said, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”
I am so grateful that our God calls us to dare to dream and accomplish great things. Throughout our lives when we set out to achieve those seemingly lofty goals, we will likely fail from time to time. However, we have the assurance that our heavenly Father will be right there to pick us up, comfort us and set our feet back on that path to victory. I wonder today, what is God calling you to do that will lift you beyond any gray twilight into a world of exciting victory for Jesus.
We read throughout the Book of Psalms how David cried out to the Lord when he was surrounded by his enemies. We may not have physical enemies who attack us, but as Christians we all face a variety of “enemies” that seek to destroy our faith in God. These may include fear, doubt, regret, shame and guilt. If this applies to you, let me encourage you to read Psalm 18:32-35, which states:
“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.”
The Lord is faithful to provide us with strength for our daily challenges and life’s trials. The next time you are hesitant to step out in faith and pursue a dream, just remember that without adversity and a few roadblocks along the way we wouldn’t have the opportunity to increase our faith and to become more like Christ.
