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Has anyone ever asked you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Chances are, if you were raised in Western society, you’ve been asked that question on numerous occasions by relatives, teachers, guidance counselors, and other well-meaning adults who were eager to guide you on your journey to becoming a productive member of society.
Do you remember being taught that:
- You can be a butcher, a baker, or a candle stick maker!
- You can be a doctor, a lawyer, or an astronaut!
- You can even be the President of the United States!
You’ve probably been told, at some point in your life, that you can be anything that you want to be, if only you set your mind to it.
Our culture teaches that all we need to do to have everything we want in life is to decide what it is that we want – to work hard – and to follow our dreams.
We’re given this advice as children – and many of us pass it along as adults with the best of intentions – because we want to encourage our kids to dream big.
We want our children to be excited about their futures and all of the wonderful things that they can do with their lives!
The only problem with sharing this conventional advice with our children is that it isn’t entirely true.
When Cultural Beliefs Differ From Biblical Truths – Follow The Bible!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2
Think about it for a moment.
Deep down inside, as much as we want to idealistically believe that if we set our minds to anything, we can make it happen – sheer logic and personal experience tell us that this simply isn’t the case. We all know lots of talented, hard-working people who, for various reasons, are unable to achieve their dreams – sometimes for reasons beyond their control – sometimes because they are pursuing the wrong dream in the first place.
Have you ever known someone who’s dreamed of becoming a police officer, a fireman, or a member of the military whose application was declined because they had a pre-existing medical condition that precluded them from serving?
Have you ever known anyone who wanted to pursue a career in the creative arts but lacked the gifts, contacts and opportunities necessary to succeed in those fields?
Have you ever met an individual whose prospects of becoming a scientist, engineer, doctor or other highly trained individual were cut short by a lack of innate technical skills, knowledge, and education?
Our humanistic culture tells us to place our faith in man’s potential – but the Bible tells us to place our faith in God and His perfect plan for our life.
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. – Proverbs 16:9
It’s okay to dream big and to pursue our dreams – as long as they don’t take precedence over or conflict with God’s plans for our lives!
Identify And Pursue God’s Plans For Your Life
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10
The truth is that God gives us the freedom to pursue any path we want in life – but God created each of us with a unique purpose and a perfect plan for our lives.
God gives each of us special gifts and talents that pre-dispose us towards certain vocations in life. These gifts, combined with our individual personalities, our heart’s desires, and our individual experiences, make us uniquely suited for the purpose God created us to fulfill.
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. – Psalm 139:16
If we pursue our own dreams without any regard for God’s plan for our lives, we wind up feeling empty, frustrated, and disillusioned inside. If we partner with God and seek His guidance for our lives, we discover the freedom and joy that comes from living the life God created us to live – no matter where that may take us.
Which path will you follow? The choice is yours!
Plant God’s Seeds In Your Child’s Life
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
It’s never too early to begin planting the seeds in your child’s mind that God has a perfect plan their life. In fact, the earlier you begin to share this idea with them, the better!
In case you’re wondering where to start, Amy Parker has written a book called The Plans I Have For You that is perfect for young readers!
What I love about this new book from Zonderkidz is that it helps young children to associate finding their purpose in life and choosing a career with serving God, and it directs them to His book, the Bible, for instructions.
Of course, Amy’s delightful rhyme and the bright and beautiful illustrations of Vanessa Brantley-Newton make The Plans I Have For You a joy to read for children and parents alike!
Would you like to take a peek inside? I couldn’t resist!
Watch the Video for The Plans I Have For You
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Your Turn
What do you think God’s plan is for your life – and how does it coincide or differ from your own personal plans? What unique gifts and life experiences has God given you that uniquely equip you to fulfill God’s plans for you? Please share your thoughts in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
