7 Myths Men Believe & the Biblical Truths Behind ThemMuestra

The Myth: “You must chase your dream.”

I finished three strokes off the pace in this year’s Illinois Amateur Open. Three strokes! Do you know what that means? I’m on the verge of breaking through! My swing coach says everything about my game is in balance right now. And he’s not a guy who gives compliments lightly. I’m so close to seeing my dream of becoming a golf pro a reality.

I just wish someone else around here shared my excitement. My father-in-law certainly doesn’t. Last week he told my wife that she’d married a bum. He’s very traditional, and he has trouble with the fact that his daughter has the stable job in our household. I work, too. It’s just that I can’t really pursue a career because my focus is on my sport. So I work a job that has a lot of flexibility. I do make money, but most of it goes toward swing coaches, equipment, tournament fees, and things like that. Yes, it’s expensive, but those are the sacrifices you have to make if you want to live your dream.

My wife is on board—for two more years, at least. When we got married, I asked her for seven years to give me a chance to pursue my dream. (Actually, I asked her for ten, but she said she’d only give me seven.) I told her that if I didn’t make pro by then, I’d settle down and find a real job.

That was five years ago. And I’ve made incredible progress since then. I figure I’m so close now that my wife won’t mind giving me another year or two if I need it. After all, this is my dream.

The Truth

How about you? Do you have a dream—a passion that drives you, an interest that you pursue with all the time and resources available to you? It’s not a bad thing—unless it becomes a god. Do you ever wonder whether your dream might be interfering with God’s will for your life? Check out the following suggestions. You’ll find that the ones at the top of the list are non-threatening, for the most part. The ones at the bottom, however, will require some tough decisions on your part.

• Spend time thinking about Jesus’ words of submission to God in Luke 22:42: “Not my will, but yours be done.”

• Identify your real reasons for pursuing your dream. Be honest. Are you looking for personal fame, glory, or riches? Are you being driven by an unhealthy competitive streak? Are you running from something or avoiding something?

• Make a list of things you’ve gained and things you’ve lost in your pursuit of your dream.

• Ask friends, family members, and mature Christians whose opinions you value to evaluate your dream honestly. And listen to them.

• Read Isaiah 55:1–3. Is your dream centered around growing nearer to God? If not, do you really think that attaining your dream will bring genuine satisfaction?

• Ask God to give you wisdom, clarity, and boldness in assessing your dream.

• If your dream is preventing you from serving the Lord to the best of your ability, give it up. Consider it a sacrifice to God.

• If your dream is not honoring to God, ask him to give you a new dream—not only one that honors him but one you can pursue with the same passion you had when you pursued your previous dream.