Awaken Your God-Given Dreams

The Young Boy Who Stepped Out

"Master," a young boy's voice was heard inside the king's tent, "don't give up hope. I'm ready to go and fight the Philistine."

Voices around the tent turned into hushed tones. They strained to hear what was going on inside. A young boy, the king's personal musician, had just entered and it seemed that he wanted to fight the giant.

"You can't go and fight the Philistine," they heard the King reply, ""You are too young and inexperienced – and he has been in the fighting business since he was young."

You are too young and inexperienced.

How many times have we heard those words before?

These words when taken seriously can cut the heart like the sharpest of knives.

They are words that destroy dreams, and discourage dreamers.

"I am only small."

When you decide to step out in faith, there will be people who will discourage you. They will question your skills, qualifications, integrity, character, and sometimes, your intentions.

In the Old Testament, you have to be 20 years old to enter the army.

The youngest of Jesse's eight children, David was so young that his task was to tend his father's sheep. Only 3 of his brothers were able to join the army.

The fact that David wasn't qualified to fight for the army reveals that David at that time was below 20 years old. The only reason he was sent to camp was to deliver food to his brothers and see how they were doing.

However when David came to the camp, he did not saw the Israelites fighting the enemy. He only saw soldiers cowering in fear, so he decided to do take the challenge himself.

But people did not believe in him.

"You are too young and inexperienced," they warned.

You are small. You are no match for someone as big as him. You will not win.

People naturally look down on others who they think are too young or inexperienced. They unintentionally wound dreamers by saying that they are not good enough.

This should not surprise or dishearten you.

Even in the bible, Paul told his young assistant Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because he is young. He told the disheartened young lad that he should instead be an example to other people in deeds, thoughts and the way he leads his life.

David also had a response to these discouragements.

David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion and bear, it made no difference – I killed it. And I'll do the same to the Philistine pig who is taunting the troops [of God] who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine!3"

The first thing to do when facing discouragements is to look at your experiences. What have you done in your life that you are proud of? What are your accomplishments?

David as a young boy remembered that while the giant was big and mighty, he (David) is not that small either. Didn't he also kill a bear and lion with his bare hands?

Do you have a big dream?

Most God-given dreams are in line with your innate passion and talents. In short, you already have that ability in you to accomplish your dream (more in the next chapter).

You are already uniquely made for your dreams.

If you look at the trails of your past, you can see the hand of God already working in your life. How? Through the small victories that you have already attained.

Have you always wanted to open a dance school? Look back, you might have remembered how you used to teach a group of your friends and other people how to dance. Hope to open a gallery and exhibit for your paintings? You might have already received praises and awards for your art before. Want to write and publish a book? Chances are you have already written a couple of short stories or essays in your life.

Look back at these victories, no matter how small they may seem to you. A small thing when offered to God becomes huge! God is already preparing you for something big.

You are made for this moment.

"There is nothing I can do."

This is one of the biggest excuses for not pursuing your dream.

There will always be someone or something to blame for your misfortunes: the economy, the politicians, your parents, and God.

You can blame lack of education, lack of money, lack of time and even old age.

There is just nothing you can do.

You feel powerless.

When David accepted Goliath's challenge, he did not make any excuse.

True, the giant is big.

True, David is young.

He is not qualified to join the army.

He did not take any formal course in slaying giants or even in fighting in war.

True, he is not the king that he can afford an expensive armor.

He knew this, but he did not let these excuses stop him.

Instead he went into the battlefield armed with a sling and a stone, boldly saying:

"I came at you in the name of God of Israel's troops whom you curse and mock... I'm about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there's an extraordinary God in Israel."

No, David was not a person who makes excuses. He believed that when none would take the challenge, he could do something. He could kill the giant. He could defeat his enemies – even though he was small.

All because he knew he has an extraordinary God.

And that for Him was more than enough.

"Take the first step," Martin King Jr. encouraged. "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Step out in faith just like David.

And watch how God will honor that step and let you conquer every giant that comes in between you and your God-given dreams.

Are you ready to start?