Dream Big! He is Able!

On July 4th, 2020, I wrote the following in my prayer journal: “You opened my eyes to pray for divine encounters where I will be able to share your message and love with others.” A few days later, on July 9th, I filled three pages in my journal with verses about peace. Shortly after, I was on a God Run and He laid on my heart to start a women’s conference (Daughters of Peace). He brought to my mind negative feelings women battle on a daily basis: feelings of shame, being overwhelmed all the time, exhaustion, low self-worth, failure, comparison, and feelings of defeat. The purpose of the conference would be to love on these women. And to share with them God’s message of unconditional love, His message of the value of His daughters, and His message of peace beyond anything we can understand.

I won’t lie. My first response do this idea of a conference wasn’t, Let’s GO!!!” My first response was, “This is big! I don’t know if I can do this.” I remember the moment so clearly. God reminded me that it wasn’t up to me and if He called me to put this into place, He would make it happen.

Who Am I?

I would like to tell you that I have never questioned my abilities like Moses did. God called him to go to Pharaoh and speak to him about taking the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses responded, “Who am I, that I should go…” I have had several, “Who-am-I-this-is-too-big-I’m-not-enough” moments. But I’m learning there’s a lot of truth in the saying, “God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.”

I sat on this calling for a while before I really started chasing it. In November of 2021, I shared this God-sized dream with a dear friend and she responded with a huge, enthusiastic, supportive, “Let’s do it!” So we did! We brought a few others along to start the planning process and put things in motion. (I’m forever grateful to each of them!) As time went on, more volunteers stepped up and we had a large team- working to bring this event to life.

The entire time we planned for this conference, we kept the vision in mind: to bring women the message of peace. We wanted to break the cycle of negative thoughts and call out Satan’s schemes of telling lies about who we are and where our value comes from.

In planning for the conference, I had originally thought the summer of 2023 would be a good goal and give us plenty of time to plan. But God had a different idea. He said to move now, so we did. Today marks one week since the conference and I am still floating high on a mountaintop! I don’t have the words to accurately describe how wonderfully amazing the entire day was. The only word I can think of that comes close to expressing to you how beautiful it all turned out to be is simply this: divine.

I wish I could tell you all the ways we got to see God’s hand throughout the planning of this event. We had an amazing prayer team who was constantly lifting up every detail of the conference. I heard numerous stories of women who prayed for friends, daughters, neighbors, family, or co-workers to sign-up to attend. And then I would receive a text of celebration when the one they prayed for registered. I heard many stories of women who were going through incredibly hard times and were coming to the conference to learn more about how to overcome with peace.

As the conference began, the doors closed, the lights dimmed, words of hope, of love, and of peace flashed across the screens in the sanctuary. The music began and the tears began to flow. He did it. It was really happening. The day had come. God was moving. He moved all throughout the conference and is still working in women’s lives- working to bring them to a closer relationship with Him, working to share true and perfect peace that only comes from Him, and working to show women that they are enough because He’s enough.

Missed Opportunities

I think back to what a beautiful day that was. And then I think about the fact that I could have totally missed it. If I had stuck with my gut reaction of, “Who am I?” I would not have been obedient to His plan and I would’ve missed so many amazing experiences.

The more I learn about Jesus and women in the Bible, the more I understand how incredibly sweet this calling really was. He gave me this God-sized dream because He loves His daughters. It’s like He whispered to me, “Hey, Sarah! My girls don’t know how much I really love them. They’re struggling. They’re stressed. They’re tired. They need fellowship. They need to know that I am chasing after them. Sarah, tell my girls I love them. Show them how special they are. Bring them together so they know they’re not alone.”

I’m not writing all of this to tell you that this conference came to be because of me. There is nothing good in me apart from Him. And He could’ve used anyone. I’m writing because I’m still overwhelmed by what an honor it has been to have a front-row seat to all of this. I’m writing because I’m ashamed of how many God-appointed dreams I’ve turned down because I was scared or didn’t feel like I had what it would take. In all reality, I was (unconsciously) calling the Bible a liar. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul said,

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

It’s not about what we can do, it’s about what HE can do through us. It’s not about our power, it’s about HIS.

I’m writing because I want you to get to experience what I did by saying yes to a God-appointed dream. Think for just a minute: What was it that God placed on your mind in the past that you’ve turned away from? Was it to reach out to someone specific He laid on your heart? Was it to invite someone to a small group Bible Study or to church? Was it to bless someone by providing for a need? Was it to write a book, or a blog post, or a song? What was it? What IS it? It doesn’t matter how big or how small the task. If it is God-appointed, your obedience will have a God-sized impact.

One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 3:20.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

HE IS ABLE! This isn’t one of my favorites because I want to get more material things. That’s not what abundantly more is talking about. It’s one of my favorite verses because it speaks to how small we dream and how big He’s waiting to deliver. And it focuses on God getting ALL the glory! HE IS ABLE to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE all we ASK or THINK. In HIS name and for HIS glory, it’s time to follow those Holy Spirit nudges and dream big… because HE IS ABLE! What would happen if all of God’s people answered, “Yes!” instead of, “Who am I, that I should go?” Just think about what this would do for His Kingdom… for His glory… in His name!

I could write multiple blog posts on the blessings I experienced throughout the Daughters of Peace Conference. Friendships were developed. I got to see people use amazing gifts and talents to put on the conference. I met new friends! I learned from some amazing speakers! I got to worship with my Sisters! I got to hear story after story of answered prayers, bitterness turned to forgiveness, recommitments to relationships with Jesus, a new sister coming to Christ, provision after provision after provision given… and the list goes on. I got to experience a faith increase. I knew God called this conference to be, so with every hiccup along the way, I took it to Him in prayer and trusted that He would handle it. And guess what! He didn’t just handle it. He showed time and time again that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than I could ask or think.

Your God Dream

What has God asked you to do in the past? Do it! He’ll provide. What is He asking you to do now? Do it! He is able! Don’t let Satan feed you lies that you’re not good enough or it’s too hard. Don’t let fear rob you of His calling. As I write this, I’ve leaked several times (from the northern region, of course). I’m still so giddy over what God has done. I want you to get to experience that too. Abundant living is not living in a mansion on the coast with every desire at your beck and call. Part of abundant living is saying yes when He calls, trusting Him with all the details, and getting to watch Him move. Instead of saying, “Who am I, that I should go?” let’s say, “I am yours! I will go!” Dream big! There is no limit to what God can do!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:6