What Happens When Women Walk in Faith –

Trusting God Takes You to Amazing Places

By Lysa Terkeurst

Chapter 17 – God’s Dream, God’s Way

We have been taking a journey through this book for several months now.  We have gone through four phases:  Leaving, Famine, Believing and Death.  We are now entering the final (and best) phase…Resurrection!

I love that word.  It is a reminder of new life, just as we were given when Jesus rose from the grave and paved the way for us to have eternal life.

Lysa starts off the chapter by reminding us that resurrection can only happen after death. 

“To the soul who has a lesser trust in God, the death phase could almost seem cruel and unnecessary.  But the closer we walk with the Lord, the more we start rejoicing in it.  For we’ve come to recognize this as the sign that the new life we desperately desire and can’t get any other way is just around the corner.” (Chapter Seventeen “God’s Dream, God’s Way,” page 169)

It’s amazing to think about the way death brings new life.  But as believers, we can know that death isn’t the end.  It is the pathway to a new beginning.  It is also necessary for other reasons…“And the death makes us people who can accept the accolades of resurrection without pride.  Remember the death phase keeps us humbly and keenly aware that the resurrection has nothing to do with us.  Our talents, our creativity, our manipulating, our arranging, our being in the right place at the right time—none of it brought about the good that is dawning. 

God’s dream planted in us is brought about by His hand alone.  Only now can we let credit go to where credit is due.  Not by our own efforts but by God’s grace did this happen, and that we now know full well.

God’s dream for us must come to life God’s way.” (Chapter Seventeen “God’s Dream, God’s Way,” pages 169-170)

God’s way also means HIS timing.  We have our own ideas on when things should happen.

“Are you in a waiting period right now? Though your resurrection may not happen as quickly as you would like, it is coming.  Your promised land is close.  In the meantime, look for opportunities to honor the Lord today.” (Chapter Seventeen “God’s Dream, God’s Way,” page 172)

Lysa mentions specific things we can do…release a debt; forgive someone; bless the one who is cursing you; resist feelings of anger, disillusionment and jealousy.

But what about when God tells you no?  Sometimes God’s no really means not now, not yet, not necessary or it’s not in your best interest.  We have to accept that sometimes He does tell us no.  But it is always for our own good.

We have to learn to be accepting with what we have and what He has given us.  God provides us with exactly what we need.

It reminds me of many years ago, when my husband and I were looking for a home and we thought we found the perfect one.  We thought it was the perfect size and in the perfect location. But it all fell through and we didn’t understand why.

Little did we know that the house wouldn’t be big enough because we would be adding another child and the location wouldn’t make a difference because he would take our family down a path we hadn’t considered.  While this is just a small example, it shows that if God cares about a house…He most certainly cares about those things that are closest to our hearts.  

Remember, it’s God’s Dream and it’s HIS way!

TerKeurst, Lysa (2005). What Happens When Women Walk in Faith.  Eugene, Oregon:  Harvest House Publishers