The God who sees our dreams
In a time of constant change, we often ask ourselves: Where do our deepest longings come from? Are our dreams meaningful or just fleeting thoughts? The encouraging truth: God himself is the author of our deepest dreams. He has placed them in our hearts and invites us to discover them.
Being seen changes everything
The story of Hagar from Genesis 16 always touches me deeply. An Egyptian slave fled into the desert, desperate and alone. There she encounters God, and this encounter changes her life so fundamentally that she gives him a special name: “El Roi” – the God who sees me.
This is the core message of the Bible: we have a God who not only sees our outward appearance, but also looks deep into our hearts (according to 1 Samuel 16:7). He knows the dreams and longings that we ourselves may not yet fully understand.
Recognizing God-given dreams
How do we distinguish between our own desires and dreams that God has placed within us? God-given dreams have special characteristics:
- They remain constant
While fleeting desires come and go, God-given dreams burn in our hearts for the long term, even during difficulties. - They exceed our abilities
They often seem impossible at first and challenge us to surpass ourselves and trust God. - They serve a higher purpose
They are not only for our personal benefit, but always have a dimension that serves others and God’s kingdom. - They fit our design
They harmonize with the gifts, talents and passions that God has already placed within us.
Perhaps you feel a deep longing to help disadvantaged children, to start a business that embodies ethical values, or to create artful expressions that lead people to God. These dreams do not come by accident – they are divine seeds planted in your heart.
Why God plants dreams in us
God plants dreams in our hearts for several reasons:
- To guide us to
His purpose Our dreams are often clues to the unique contribution we are called to make in this world. - To draw us close to Him
When we pursue dreams that are bigger than ourselves, we become dependent on His power and guidance. - To reveal his nature through us
Through our dreams, God shows the world who he is: creative, loving, merciful and just. - To transform us
The path to fulfilling God-given dreams changes us the most.
Hope as fuel for dreams
God-given dreams are fueled by hope. In Romans 8:24-25 we read: “For it is by hope that we are saved. … But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (LUT)
This hope is more than positive thinking – it is a firm certainty that God will overcome fear, live dreams, and complete what he has begun. It gives us strength to continue even when we do not yet see visible results. Sometimes we must make the conscious decision to hope, especially when our feelings are wavering. This hope has the power to light up in the darkest moments – like Hagar, whose desperate escape became the site of a divine encounter.
The three habits of dream clarification
To recognize the dreams God has placed in our hearts, we need three basic habits:
- Regular Bible reading
God’s Word is like a mirror that helps us reflect our desires and align them with God’s character and plan. - Constant prayer
In conversation with God, we can lay out our dreams and listen for His still, small voice of confirmation or correction. - Vibrant community
Other believers help us recognize blind spots and often confirm the gifts and callings we can’t see ourselves.
Overcoming fear, living dreams
The biggest obstacle between us and our God-given dreams is often fear. Ten of the twelve spies Moses sent out were overcome by fear and missed God’s promises as a result (see Exodus 13).
A fear-based view paralyzes us and limits our potential. A faith-based view, on the other hand, opens doors to opportunities that God has planned for us.
The horizon of dreams
True transformation begins when we take the next bold step. Our deepest longings – those recurring thoughts that move us emotionally and in the pursuit of which we lose track of time – are often divine pointers to our unique calling.
As with Hagar, whose return after her encounter with God ushered in a new life story, even 21 days of a new habit can mark the beginning of a life-changing journey. It is precisely in moments of apparent failure that God’s transformative power works most intensely, turning hopeless endings into unexpected new beginnings and leading us to a deeper dimension of our existence through external circumstances or inner change. In his omniscient gaze lies not only your present reality, but also your future potential; he has planted dreams in your heart and invites you to join him on the adventure of realizing them – through that first, decisive step that sets your dream in motion and brings the impossible within reach.
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Gunnar Engel lives with his wife Anni and their two children in Kiel, where he is pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Apostle Church congregation. He also shares his thoughts on the church, faith, and life in the 21st century on social media. In 2019, he received the “Golden Compass” media award from the Christian Media Initiative pro for the ideas he publishes on his YouTube channel. He is also the author of the book “Vision: Everything Changes Because God Sees You;” in which he shows how God’s loving gaze can transform our lives and our dreams.
