Why Following Your Dreams May Keep You from God’s Best
- Jack Selcher
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 13
“If you catch yourself daydreaming during the workday, you’re not alone. We all think about following our dreams. But how do you know if you should go for it?
Maybe you want to travel the world. Or you can’t stop thinking about starting your own business. Whatever your dream is, the idea of actually following that dream can be terrifying. You may feel like you need to meet the expectations of others instead of doing what you want.
However, connecting with your true self is more than worth it. Studies show that living authentically helps you find more meaning in life, among other benefits. People are missing out on life when they refuse to follow their dreams.
Research has clearly shown that people are far more likely to regret what they didn’t do than what they did. We tend to think that if we push down or ignore our dreams, they’ll go away. The truth? At the end of your life, you’re almost sure to wonder why you never followed your dreams.
The good news is that you can still go for it. It might be scary, but if you believe in yourself, you’re unstoppable. Plus, the benefits of following your dreams far outweigh the cons.”
To add additional weight to the importance of following your dreams, the author quotes several influential people:
“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Don’t dream your life, but live your dream.” - Mark Twain
“If you can dream it, you can make it so.” - Belva Davis
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” - Nelson Mandela
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
“Each dream you leave behind is a part of your future that will no longer exist.”1 - Steve Jobs
So, the obvious conclusion is that we are foolish if we don’t follow our dreams. And that conclusion is completely wrong from God’s perspective. The world system distracts you from God's purpose for your life.
It is like the traveler heading east on the Pennsylvania Turnpike who asked one of the employees at the Gulf station where I worked how far it was to the Ohio line. He was traveling east when he thought he was heading west. The correct answer would have been “At least 20,000 miles, sir, circling the earth, and you will need a big boat.”
To guarantee that your life will not be meaningful, follow your dreams. How do I know? The Bible tells me so, and it is also my experience. I have found that nothing satisfies me more than doing what God wants. It leaves ocean-deep contentment in its wake.
The Apostle Peter told us not to spend the rest of our lives chasing our desires but to be anxious to do God’s will (1 Peter 4:2). Chasing our desires is the chief competitor of following God’s agenda.
We can’t do both. Chasing our dreams is the worst thing we can do if we want to experience the overflowing, meaningful life Jesus promised in John 10:10.
Peter explains the essence of doing God’s will for believers. “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT). Serving God and others is the fountain of abundant living. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.
See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com
God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 14,074 people. I invite you to explore it.
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