On Wednesdays we are thrilled to fling open the doors to all of YOU! We love hearing your dreaming stories…the lessons you’ve learned, the roads you’ve walked, the dreams He’s planted in your hearts! Today we are excited to welcome April Ayers to God-sized Dreams. She is sharing a little about living in the moment even when our dreams aren’t playing out as we had hoped. Thanks for being here today, April!

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Trying to live in the moment is often a struggle for me-some days more than others. With a dream that has been in my heart for several years now, it seems that my mind often wanders into tomorrow with hopes held high for what it may bring.

The Dream…all-consuming if I let it be. A dream for a different kind of life. A new chapter. The guilt that I wrestle with, the life I have now is amazing. So blessed. Beautiful healthy kids, a great husband, a beautiful home. Amazing family and friends weaved into our lives. A life centered in Jesus Christ. What more could one ask for?

After the Lord restored my marriage, a desire for a new chapter was birthed. We had always talked about wanting to live where there were seasons and cooler weather. Family is here though, for both of us.

I developed a different appreciation for family being within our new walls after the Lord restored us. The walls of the six of us. Loving our extended families dearly, but desiring a simpler life for us and our kids. Space to roam and explore God’s creation in our own backyard. A chance to experience the joy and awe of the Creator’s seasons. With three boys, it is especially hard to live in the hottest state and not lose my mind during half of the year that is impossible to play outdoors.

God gave me a hearts’ desire for nature. For the outdoors and the beauty of the mountains, country, rivers, and other vast bodies of water that He spoke into being. It is also fitting that my husband is a big outdoorsman and hunter. He gave me these desires even as a child, not knowing that as I got older they would become part of who I was.

I still don’t know why this dream swells so vast in my heart, but it has become almost consuming at times. These past three years we have prayed about this and asked the Lord to open a door for opportunity should He will this for us. We have had three very real opportunities present themselves and take us so close to the dream we could almost grasp it.

But the doors were closed as quickly as they were opened. Just like the hardest moments of my life have brought me into the fold of His robe, these moments of utter disappointment for a dream not yet entered into, have also brought me closer to Him. (<====Tweet this.)

It has been in these emotional let downs, that after I got off the ground from having my tantrum, I have learned just as quickly to thank Him. Thank Him for protecting us from what was unseen. Trusting Him to know what is best for us, yet grieving this still burning desire of my heart.

I have to consciously look at what is truth and ask if this dream is mine or His. (<====Tweet this.)

I believe with all of my heart that whether He gave me this desire, or it is of my own, He is good to bring to fruition whatever is best for us. So with our ears wide open, and spirits receptive to His leading- we wait and trust our Heavenly Father for whatever our tomorrows may bring.

“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 29:11-13

 

                                                                                                                                                           Photo by: Kim Johnson Photography

April is a wife, mom of 4, a nurse, and most recently a writer. Entering into a new season with her children all in school, she felt God’s calling to embark on a new adventure. With a desire in her heart to offer encouragement and inspiration to other women, she has recently started a blog. She holds a passion to inspire women to invite Jesus into their everyday moments as well as the messes. To allow Him to offer healing, forgiveness, and His amazing grace as He makes each story His own.Her prayer is for the Lord she serves to speak through her and be a light to all who He leads her way. You can connect with April on her new website, aprilayers.com