Undoubtedly one of the questions I hear the most as it relates to going after your dreams and fulfilling the call of God on your life is… How do I get started? Trust me I understand, between work, kids, marriage, bills, trying to eat right, and the occasional family drama, who actually has time to plan for how to reach their dreams. In addition there’s that whole being broke thing that tends to put a damper on trying to get started.
At the end of the day I believe we all have a longing to be more than we currently are and a desire to fulfill all that God has called us to do. After all I don’t know anyone that fantasizes about sitting in a rocking chair in their 80’s regaling their grandchildren about the great idea they had but never executed on. The excuses we tell ourselves for not getting started are endless and always perfectly justifiable to us.
- I’m too old
- I’m too young
- I’m too broke
- I don’t know enough
- I don’t have the resources
- I don’t have the time
- I have too many other responsibilities
- etc. etc.
One glaring problem comes to the surface if you truly examine most of the excuses we tell ourselves. We all have the same 24 hours in a day and everyone has issues (some a lot greater than ours) yet there are still people that manage to break through the mediocre and maximize the potential God placed in them. If not then who’s founding churches and where are all the businesses and charities coming from? So what makes these people different from you and how can you duplicate their results?
It’s simple; you start where you are, use what you have and do what you can.
One of the most profound truths in the Gospels is that God accepts and loves us in whatever state we were in when we found him. He doesn’t wait for us to be perfect or have it all together before loving us and thank God for that. God invites us to start the journey with him just as we are. He invites us to start without having all the answers, without having every scripture memorized, without knowing exactly what we’re doing.
He does this because he knows that without a start there can be no journey and no possibility of a finish.
This same principle applies when chasing after our dreams. We just need to start even, if only in some small way and use the resources and the time that we do have. Say for example you love cooking and dream of owning a restaurant some day and being your own boss. If your current situation doesn’t allow you to go full fledge after your dream and you can’t open a restaurant now then consider doing a mobile food truck. If you can’t open a mobile food truck then start doing catering. If you can’t do catering then just offer to make meals for friends. If you can’t make meals for friends then write a cook book. If you can’t write a cookbook then start a cooking blog. If you can’t start a blog on cooking then wait tables in a restaurant similar to one you would like to own one day. If you can’t wait tables then at least go to the library and start educating yourself on the process to open a restaurant. And if you can’t even read one book then I strongly question your commitment to your dream.
We have to be faithful in the small things and remember that reaching our dreams whatever they may be is a process, a journey that will test our character and our commitment. The Bible says it this way.
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” – (Luke 16:10 NLT)
I remember when I first had the vision to do a financial ministry, it was eight years ago and I was lying in bed and my head was flooded with all these ideas. I started writing everything down even the name of the ministry and what lessons we would teach in classes. I also remember being extremely broke, in debt and lacking any resources at the time. I took my last $200 I had in savings and bought the domain name www.freetoserve.org and started reading everything I could on starting a ministry and began leading classes for Crown Financial Ministries and Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University. Truth be told it was five years from the date I received the vision from God till Free to Serve actually became a ministry and I started teaching classes. The website actually sat for five years with no content but the point is that I started right where I was. I used what resources I had and did what I could do at the time and built up from there. Realize that there will never be a perfect time to start. Your ducks will never be in a row and you will never have everything figured out. However you can chose today to take that first step.
So even though I know you’re crazy busy and have a thousand and one things stressing you out the clock is ticking and every day we all get a little closer to that 80 year old in the rocking chair. I challenge you to have some great stories ready to tell your grandchildren. Just remember, that can only happen if you chose to start right now where you are.
Now that you have heard my two cents what’s your take? What can you do today to start right where you are and progress towards your dream? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Article submitted by Efrem Jackson – Founder, Free to Serve Financial Ministries
DEAR EFREM, September 3, 2017
I hope you live a long , long life, Efrem. WHY?
Because I see you as one the most inspiring “preachers, problem-solvers, and people helpers” EVER–providing down-home, very practical ways and helps—addressing US real people and OUR real problems, excuses, and possibilities! While telling every-body about God’s accepting Love, that even we in our “broke-ness” and “broken-ness” are acceptable, that God-Christ-Spirit is ready, willing, and wanting to bless us more and free us to be a greater blessing to others! For encouraging and urging us to start now, with even our next seeming small steps!
I like how you motivate us and inspire us, Efrem–and help us to see that God is motivating and inspiring us–to “GO FOR THE MORE!” TO TAKE OUR NEXT STEPS, EVEN IF SEEMINGLY SMALL STEPS, TO BEING HAPPIER, DOING GOD’S WILL, GETTING FINANCIALLY FREER, GOING FOR OUR DREAMS, HEAR-ING-ACTING ON THE PROMPTINGS GOD PUTS IN OUR HEARTS TO SERVE OR TO STEP UP AND CLIMB OUT, TO FIND GOD’S FREEDOM AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES, TO GET ON A NEW PLANE, TO GET TO “Life Indeed”–NOT JUST EXISTING, SURVIVING, BEING CONSUMERS!” HELPING US GET TO “PROUDER OF OUR LIVES,” WHO WE ARE BEING AND WHAT WE ARE DOING.
I’M 80 NOW, A RETIRED umc PREACHER-PASTOR. I’ve served small-large-rural-urban-rich and poor congregations and people, so-called “lily white” to real integrated churches in a 98 % black ghetto in Chicago. You “preach home to me,” Efrem, n-o-w, AND (I think) EVERY REAL HUMAN SOUL, EVERYBODY–WITH GOD-CHRIST’S LIGHT AND LOVE AND HOPE AND HELP. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND ALL YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS!
Efrem, I just wish I could help everybody in the U.S. and everywhere know about you, your words and resources, and your ministries!
May God give you a LONG life and continue to bless you, guide you, keep you up and serving until YOUR endeavors radically “catch on fire” (with Holy Spirit flames–that’s a part of our United Methodist logo!) and until many, perhaps millions(!) of individuals and families have been blessed, guided, enabled and empowered by your words and your beautiful servant-spirit.
Sincerely and with great admiration,
Rev. J. Roland Cole, colejr78@gmail.com
P.S. I’ve decided to turn this letter into a one-page hand-out to pass around, with the following in the “Header:
SHARE “BEING-DOING BETTER” HELP– resources, motivation, inspiration, practical tips!– for self or others @ “freetoserve.com.” URL: http://www.freetoserve.org/2016/04/start-where-you-are/
Roland I can’t say thank you enough for the kinds words. I’m humbled at the thought of being able to reach or touch anyone. Your words and encouragement have found me at a time when I really needed to hear it. I’m beyond thankful. Many blessings to you.