God-Sized Dreams: A 30-Day Journey of Faith and CourageSample

What to Do When the Lies Get Loud

“You’re selfish for pursuing this God-sized dream.”

“You’re going to fail, and everyone is going to know it.”

“You don’t have anything big enough to offer.”

If you’re pursuing a God-sized dream, expect the lies to come. In the Garden of Eden, the enemy deceived Eve with one question, “Did God really say?” and he has thrown untruth at our hearts ever since. When you dare to take a step forward for the kingdom, you put yourself on the front lines of the battle for truth.

The lies wound us, and then we feel ashamed. We assume we must be doing something wrong. After all, aren’t all our brothers and sisters having victory? But this is universal: if you are a God-sized dreamer, you will have to battle lies. The particular one that comes at you will be unique to you, but we all must deal with them.

Thankfully, we do have what we need to combat those attacks. In the passage Paul wrote about the armor of God, he says, “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16 NIV). This means holding on to what we know is true, no matter what lies the enemy or our flesh may try to tell us.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32 NIV). Did you catch the order in those verses? First, we hold on to truth, then we know it, and then we are set free.

We expect that the moment we intellectually receive a truth, it will become real in every part of our lives. Then we experience guilt or shame when that’s not the case. But that isn’t how it works. First, we’re to hold on to truth even in the heat of battle, and then we truly know it deep down in our hearts because we’ve experienced it—and that’s when it sets us free.

You are not alone in the lies you have to battle. And we can’t do this on our own. We need others to hold up the shield of faith for us sometimes, too. Just this week, I had a thought that refused to go away. I knew it wasn’t true, but I couldn’t shake it.

I sent a message to a friend and said, “This is the lie I’m hearing. I know it isn’t true, but I’m stuck and I don’t know what truth to replace it with instead.” I also told God, “I have no idea what to do about this. I need some insight because I’m losing this battle.”

Through that vulnerability and relationship, God gave me what I needed. Years ago, I wouldn’t have done the same thing. Instead, I would have said, “I need to have it all together. I’m not supposed to struggle or feel weak.” But when we tell ourselves that, we leave our hearts unguarded and get wounded by the enemy.

There is no shame in asking for help, especially when we’re struggling to overcome the lies in our lives.

Close your eyes for a moment and listen.

Do you hear any lies?

Now listen again for the truth calling to you—inviting you into freedom and the joy of a God-sized dream that’s so much more real than anything you feel.

Go Deeper

Read about the other pieces of armor available to you in Ephesians 6:10-17.

God, you are full of grace and truth. I want your voice to be the loudest in my life and heart. Where I’m hearing lies, please show me what you want to speak to me instead. Please send people who love me into my life who will remind me of the truth I need to hold on to as well. Amen.

What’s one truth you want to remember?

What’s the next small step you’ll take?