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Thoreau was an American poet and author in the 19th Century and perhaps his most famous quotation is:
Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.
Lives of quiet desperation—that is a graphic description, isn’t it? Quiet desperation would mean that most people keep these feelings inside and are not likely to admit to them or even understand them. But that desperation is there, that hopelessness, that despair.
Let me ask:
- If you are single, never-married, is that what you dreamed of as a young girl growing up?
- If you have no children, did you ever imagine that you would be childless?
- If you are divorced for whatever reason, is that a dream come true for you?
- If you are facing what looks like financial disaster, is that how you dreamed your life would be—full of financial woes and worries?
- Are you a single mom, raising children by yourself? Was that on your hope list as you grew up?
- Are you working in a job that is nowhere near what you dreamed of as a career? Did you ever picture yourself in that job?
- Do you have children or grandchildren who have walked away from God and are living a sinful lifestyle? Is that what you dreamed of when you held that precious baby in your arms?
Maybe you would identify yourself as a person living in quiet desperation, never singing the song that is in you. As I thought about Thoreau’s quotation, I remembered that Jesus said he came that we could have life and have it to the full. He came so that we could be set free from that quiet desperation and sing the song that is in us. Paul wrote that Jesus is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, and to fill us with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19-20).
That certainly paints a different picture, doesn’t it? Abundant life, life to the full. And yet, I tend to agree with Mr. Thoreau that far-too-many people never truly know that abundant life—even true Christians. Why not?
The most obvious answer is that the enemy of our soul does everything he possibly can to keep us from that abundant life, to keep us mired in the past, in regrets, in shame, in guilt, for then we aren’t going to be very effective witnesses for Jesus Christ. Satan is a thief and a robber, and he is masterful at stealing our joy and ruining the song that we should be singing.
But here’s the good news for you—and me—today. We serve a God who specializes in redeeming our stories, taking our lost dreams and exchanging them for new beginnings. Isaiah 43:18-19 says:
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
You know, sometimes we keep asking God to do it our way when he wants to do a new thing for us. That new beginning God has for you could be springing up right now, and you’re not seeing it because you’re looking the wrong way.
For years, I thought there was only one way my dreams could come true. I had a plan and I intended to make that plan work; make it fulfill all my dreams. Since I don’t give up easily, that set me on the wrong road for many long years, convinced my way was the only way that my dreams could come true.
Whether it’s life-long dreams or something less important, who of us hasn’t expected God to jump through our hoops, to put holy water on our well-laid plans, to fulfill our desires, and then when it doesn’t happen, we get angry or bitter, we complain and become depressed, we lose faith, and some of us just give up and walk away—because life hasn’t turned out according to our plans.
Let me now ask you three simple but important questions. I challenge you to think deeply and honestly, search out your heart as much as you can, and ask God to reveal to you any wrong thinking, any false theology, any mixed-up perceptions about God you may have somehow come to believe.
- Who is God to you?
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- Is he the Santa Claus-in-the-sky god who is there to give you what you want?
- Is he the Dear Abby god who is there to listen to you when you have a problem and offer you sympathetic advice?
- Is he the Mr. Fix It god who is there to heal you or change some circumstances in your life so that life is nicer?
- Is he the DIY god who is there to help you do it yourself, to give you gifts and skills so that you can be successful?
- Or perhaps he is some combination of all the above.
In other words, is God the God of the Bible to you, or is he the god of your own imagination, your own needs, your own misconceptions? The enemy of your soul knows that if you have a wrong understanding of God, you will not be much of a threat to him. If he can keep you mired in your own idea of who God is and how God functions in your life instead of knowing the truth about God, then he will basically win most of the battles in your life.
Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Life at its best—both here and in Heaven—is to know God, and we know him through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and through making it the highest priority of our lives. Do you want to know God more than you want anything else? It has to begin with a deep longing in your soul, and then it happens through discipline and dedication.
Here is a little taste of how God is described in the Bible:
Psalm 115:3: Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
Psalm 24:1-2: The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
Ecclesiastes 5:2: Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
- Do you want to live your life according to God’s plan for you?
You may understand everything I’ve said, you may even agree with it. But do you want to live your life by God’s plan for you, or are you still holding on with clenched fists to your plans, your dreams, your agenda? It took me ten years before I came to that place of letting go. Ten years of doing my own thing, running my show, determined to get what I wanted. In those ten years had you asked me if I wanted to live according to God’s plan for my life, I probably would have said yes, but it would have just been a cover-up because in truth, I wanted God to bless my plans. I wanted my dream to come true—hopefully with God along for the ride—but one way or another, it was my way or the highway. Is that where you are?
Take it from me: Don’t waste ten years or ten minutes trying to make your dreams come true. Trust a trustworthy God who has better plans than yours and who loves you unconditionally.
“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).
- Are you willing to let go of your dreams and exchange them for his plan?
It doesn’t matter how much you’ve messed up, how dead your dreams are, or how fresh they may be. Before you can move into all that God has for you, you need to let go of your dreams and accept his plan.
You remember Moses had his shepherd’s rod and God told him to throw it down. Why? It was just a rod; he used it to guide the sheep; why did he have to relinquish it? Because it had a snake in it, and once God took the snake out, he gave it back to Moses. Then it was no longer the rod of Moses, it became the rod of God, which was used by Moses to strike water from the rock, to part the Red Sea, to set God’s people free.
You were meant to live a rescued life. All of us were meant to live rescued lives, because we all had to be rescued. And the One who rescues us is the One who takes our broken dreams and gives us new beginnings.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him (Psalm 40:2-3).
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:19).
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever (Psalm 30:11-12)
If you want God to redeem your story; if you’re ready to abandon your cherished plans and tell God you want his plan instead; if you’re just so tired of living that quiet life of desperation, today—this very day—you can relinquish your will to God, and ask him to take control. Then put disciplines in your life that will cause you to get to know God better and better. That is so totally critical to redeeming your story. It won’t happen unless knowing God becomes your soul’s deep desire.
You may wonder how you do that—how do you get to know God? His word is the main way you get to know him, and that means spending time in it—regular, considerable time. Then you need to be in a Bible-believing church that offers you fellowship with others who are truly serious about seeking God. You need Bible studies with others to help you grow. But most importantly, you must seek God with all your heart for yourself.
If you are not sure how best to do that, my Bible study, A Guide on Getting to Know God, will be helpful to you. It’s not hard, it just takes time and discipline, but as you get to know God better and better, his plans for you will become your new dreams, your new life, and your story will be redeemed for the glory of Jesus Christ.