"The Nightmare of Uncertainty"

I woke from the dream not wanting to open my eyes.  For a moment I tried to figure out where I was and where that dream came from.  Was it the okra chips I ate the night before? Maybe it was the lack of eating that caused it? I couldn’t pin point the origin, but it was really troubling.  It has been a long time since I had a nightmare.  I typically sleep really good at night and on occasion if a dream seems bad, I literally will wake myself in the middle of the dream, pray, immediately go back to sleep and I will change it!  This has been a practice of mine for years, so bad dreams have better outcomes than this one- because I won't let them end bad.  

This dream was different and I couldn't fall back to sleep to change it.  It bothered me on a different level and I couldn’t figure out why.  After getting up with a little light on, I let my dog out, and rushed back to my room.  Normally I would walk through the house for a moment, check on my son, and even peer out the front window, but this dream had me rattled!  I didn't want to walk through my dark house, even with the light. I felt scared of what I would see, or for that matter... not see.     

THE DREAM

In this dream I was in a house with a group of people, we were trying to find some evil presence that was in there, but the problem was we couldn’t see it.  We couldn’t hear it and we only felt the presence and saw the evidence of it being there.  We stayed together as we looked at clues as to where it had been last, it felt that there was some loss in the dream, but we didn’t really come across any signs of it.  As we went from one dark room to the other we were getting more and more concerned and scared.  This went on for quite a bit of the dream, moving from one room to another, searching, seeing the results but never seeing the cause.  It was the longest bad dream I've ever had.  In most of the dreams that I change, something specific happens and I change it to the better, but this one had nothing specific happening, so the roaming continued until the end.  In the dream, I had inadvertently moved away from the group to follow a clue that I thought would bring us some closure,  and I found myself alone in a separate room with this entity!  I knew I was in trouble when I could see footprints in the carpet walking towards me.  Before I had a chance to run or scream, it picked me up- with arms that I couldn't see or feel,  and it flung me back and forth in the air.   Like most bad dreams… I screamed but no sound came out.  No one could hear my cry for help.  That is when I woke up. 

SEARCH FOR MEANING

I always pay attention to my dreams.  I don’t consider myself a dreamer, and would never try to get deep by interpreting them for others; but in the past I have been able to get a good understanding of my dreams, and on occasion the dreams of others.  This one was bothering me.  My house which is usually full of the presence of God and peace, suddenly felt scary.  The carpet in the dream looked much like the carpet I'd just replaced.  The house had people I didn’t know or recognize,  but there was a mutual connection with them.  There was a fear that gripped us when we moved from room to room. It reminded me of some plans I have been working on, and some other things that kept coming to my mind this week.  I pondered on the nightmare, it seemed to have little bits of reality with a lot of uncertainty... and that was when it hit me.

UNCERTAINTY

One of the darkest and most difficult opponents we will have in life is uncertainty.  It will always be there in one form or another, undetected and quiet.  It can linger for a long time and you can find yourself battling it day in and day out.  You will never be the only one fighting it because others will have the same issue.  That is reassuring because there seems to be safety in numbers.  But at any given moment, you can find yourself alone in a room full of uncertainty.  It will toss you back and forth, fill your heart and mind with fear and confusion,  and it will seem difficult to call for help.  But like any bad dream, once you understand what is going on, you can change the game.  Once you get a little meaning and realize what God has said about the thing that is causing the fear, you are instantly empowered! 

BATTLING UNCERTAINTY 

Once the dream became clear to me, I began a simple prayer, thanking God for His power, His presence, and His will being done in my life.  I let God know that I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but He does!  Just like moving from room to room, He is there with me and His presence overpowers any other.  His presence guarantees my safety, my provision and my peace.  I may be uncertain of a lot of things, but God's love for me and His promises are not uncertain.  God has promised to be there, to guide me and to direct my path, today again I trust Him to do it.

If you find yourself in a place of fear or uncertainty about tomorrow, take time to connect with God.  We will never know all of what is in the next room,around the next bend, and we are not guaranteed that others will be there with us.  But what we are guaranteed is that He will never leave us or forsake us, the steps of a good person are still ordered by God.  He won't lead you astray.   

Be excited about the changes you are embarking on.  Be assured that there will be scary moments, but there is a greater One who is in the room with you to guide you and direct you towards purpose!  With each turn, each new endeavor, trust that you are not alone.  Our faith is activated when we continue to walk from one place to another even though we are scared!  Know that God who is perfect LOVE is there, He will deal with our fear as we yield it to Him.   So don't be moved by uncertainty,  it will be there, but walk in what you are certain of... God is too!    

Continue to march, press forward and enjoy your journey!