The desires of our hearts are not something we often share with God. Why are we so reluctant to share the desires of our hearts with God? Why is trusting God with the desires of our hearts difficult?
Throughout my life, I have struggled with giving my hopes and dreams to God. Just like many others, I have locked away my hopes and dreams, all because of my fear. Whether it was about dance, college, or ministry, I was, and still am, afraid that he will not fulfill my hopes and dreams.
Trusting God is not easy because I like control.
So because of my fear of losing control, trusting God with my dreams is not easy. Even though I never told him my dreams, I knew he cared about them. Yet, I still did not trust him with my future. Many people never realize God cares not only about them but their desires. For others like me, it is a trust issue, so that I hold tight to any control I have in this area of my life.
Another reason I struggle to tell God my desires and dreams is because I know my motives are wrong.
Sometimes, doing something is sinful. However, other times I know the behavior or choice is not bad, but my motives and desires behind it are sinful. An example of this could be a tv show you watch or going into ministry. Off the top of our heads, we would think that these two things have nothing in common, yet we can sin with both of them.
Sometimes tv shows show sinful and graphic things. Just as it would be a sin to watch the tv program, joining a ministry out of fear or self-gain is also sin. We can twist ministry with our motives. Our dreams might not be bad, but the motives behind them might be. And because we have a perfect and holy God, we, sometimes, are ashamed to show our evil and broken desires.
Another reason I fail to share my dreams with God is that I am afraid to live up to them.
Once again, I find myself not trusting God, but myself. I blame my pride for my mistrust. My pride causes me not to share my dreams because I believe that I will fail. My pride in myself feeds my fear of failure. I do not mind the work, but I am scared of the possibility that I will fail. This part of me is the same part that refuses to let God do the work for my future. I feel like I have to bring something to my partnership with God. However, I often fail to realize that I am only a small child who can do nothing without him.
Sharing the desires of our hearts is something that we all struggle with, whether we realize or not. The causes of our problems could be fear, pride, distrust, or even something else. Since we all differ, so do our problems, but do not worry, God has not given up on you.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” -Matthew 6:26
God loves us very much and wants to hear about our heart’s desires. Not only does he want to hear about our desires, but he also desires relationship and intimacy with each of us, which can only be established when we share our heart’s true desire with God.
Our Bible example for sharing our hearts is David, who is often called a man after God’s own heart. In Psalm 139, David pours his heart to God in an attempt for God to search him and to remove any obstacle between God and David.
Psalm 139: 1-3 NIV says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”
The amazing thing about Psalm 139: 1-3 is that God already knows our hearts’ desires. Now it is time for us to share our hearts with God so that we can have an unhindered and intimate relationship with Him.