Tangled - I Have a Dream!

Tangled – I Have a Dream!

  

We all have hopes and dreams. In Disney’s movie Tangled, Rapunzel a young lady celebrating her 18^th birthday has one dream. She wants to see the floating lights that show up every year on her birthday. She knows without understanding or truly knowing why that they are for her.

As Christians we have dreams. We can have some selfish and childish ones at that. I want a new car! I “need” a bigger house. I can’t continue to live without a soul mate!! I’ve got to have a child to feel complete. Whatever the dream, even if they sound childish, to us they are important to us and to God.

God cares for our dreams. He wants to fulfil our dreams. Some Christians think God is like the Gene in Aladdin and grants your wishes in the way you ask for them at the moment you ask. Some even act as if God can only grant a limited number of wishes like the Gene. So not true! His good gifts come in His time and are unlimited! Unlike Gene He is not limited to the Gene Rule Book and He can raise the dead! (Yes, I know I’ve switched movies, momentarily. Please indulge me for a paragraph more.)

First off God is not a gene. He knows what is best for us even when we don’t. He just may withhold what is not right for us at that moment. That car you want? God may realize if you have it you will not be responsible. You may be tempted to drive too fast and recklessly. That house you want? God knows the future. Your job may change and you cannot afford it or maybe it is just too much house for you. God may have a relocation planned for you that the house would complicate! It could slow down or stop an even better bigger blessing! That spouse or child you feel you need to be complete? God wants you to be complete in Him first. Being a spouse or parent is not just a getting experience it is a giving challenge and takes a lot of growing and changing to be the best, are you ready for it? God is not withholding His blessings out of punishment or on a whim. God knows what is best and wants the best for each of us when we are ready for it.

There is another reason God does not give us what we think we deserve and need, we don’t step out in faith. Rapunzel had to leave the tower to have her Dream fulfilled. She had to trust a stranger who was known not to be trustworthy.

Here are some verses about Hope and I believe they are the same thing:

Psalms 31:24

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all of you that hope in Jehovah (God).

Don’t be afraid of going for what you hope for if you believe God wants you to have it.

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Dreams left un-chased will destroy your emotions and can affect your health. When you finally have a long term goal/dream completed it is restorative to the soul.

CHASE THOSE DREAMS!!

Proverbs 24:14

So you shall know wisdom in your soul: if you have found it, then there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.

Use wisdom when chasing your dreams! We all want that fast shiny car but is it the best choice for us? We all want to be the boss and run the show at work but is it the position we are suited for and can excel in? No everybody needs to marry or should be a parent. God knows best, unlike Mother Gothel.

Matthew 14:24-32

The boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves; because the wind was strong. And late in the night Jesus came to them, walking upon the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were afraid, saying, “It is a ghost”: and they cried out in fear. But right away Jesus spoke to them and said, “Be happy, it is Me, do not be afraid.” Peter answered Jesus and said, “Lord if it is really you, ask me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come” and Peter got out of the boat and walked upon the water to Jesus. But when Peter saw the wind he was afraid; he began to sink, Peter cried out, “Lord save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand, and took hold of Peter, and said to him, “You have so little faith, why did you doubt?

Lack of faith is the opposite of hope and dreams. Lack of faith destroys hopes and dreams. Look at Peter! Jesus was an amazing sight! There was a storm at sea! The little boat they were in was being rocked by the waves! They looked out at the rolling sea and saw JESUS walking on top of the water to them! Jesus was not struggling to get there, He was simply strolling along as if it was a walk on a garden path.

Peter had hope and a dream. Peter wanted to be with Jesus and walk with Him on the water. He believed he could do it if Jesus called him too. Jesus did and Peter stepped out in faith. He started strong! Then Peter allowed fear to distract him from Jesus and he looked at the winds just to sink into the waves. Jesus was good to reach out and save him from his own disbelief.

This is much like Rapunzel not trusting Flynn toward the end of the movie and believing he had tricked her. She had to find her faith again to walk away from Mother Gothel.

We all have hopes and dreams. We all need to see them fulfilled. Are your dreams Christ driven/centered? Is there a dream that Jesus has called you out too? Having that new car just may be what God wants for you! Pray and ask! You will know what God wants for you. Is that person you are dating and dreaming of marriage with the one God has planned for you? Pray for wisdom and guidance when going after every dream. Do you believe God has you set aside for the mission field or church leadership? Then step out! Leave your tower and trust God to guide you to your dream. You may be surprised on the journey to find your dream changes! We don’t always know the reality of our dream until we start the journey towards it.