One night, I had a dream in which a young lady was teaching me a series of dance steps. The problem was that we had a short time to go on a stage to perform this dance. Another problem was that I knew that I had not attended not even one rehearsal previously. She was trying to convince me that I was “getting it”.

However, consciously knowing I was not a dancer and unfamiliar with the steps; I told her I could not master these steps and felt really uncomfortable going on stage. She looked at me — disappointed and hung her head as if I questioned her ability to teach. I reassured her, it wasn’t her, it was me.

When I woke up, I had a feeling of sadness and I started to think about the insecurities that I may have. Then I thought about what lessons the Lord might have been trying to teach me. Did I reject those lessons? Did I say Lord, I cannot go on with this? I thought; did He hang His head down as my young friend in the dream?

Study: At first, my ‘uncoordinated self’ in the dream tried and truly thought I could master these moves in the limited time we had. Then, I felt ashamed knowing I did not attend the rehearsals as I should. How did I expect to go on stage? What in my life did I need to improve? Then the Lord reminded me that He gave us His Word to teach us: Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth! (2 Timothy 2:15) As the examples of the athlete, the soldier, and the farmer in the first part of 2 Timothy 2 taught us; we have to be diligent in whatever we do.

Help: From the simplest act of breathing to a major task (to me) such as coordinating dance steps, God is the one who equips us to do any and everything in life. Psalm 121:1 and 2: tells us where our strength comes from: Our help comes from The God who made heaven and earth! He is right there! Ready to help. He never leaves us!

That just blows me away — the Master of the universe is willing to help us. Yet our finite minds think that we can take a step or even take a breath without God.

Freedom: Dancing for me represents a sort of freedom. As I continued to ponder the dream throughout the day. I thought about what fear was holding me back from being able to freely participate in the dance. Again, God reminded me of His Word; that it is not by might nor power but by His Spirit that we are able to do anything. It’s not about us, it’s about Him. (Zechariah 4:6). Our reliance and strength in Him empowers us to do all that we have to do.

So whatever is stopping us from dancing in freedom needs to be surrendered to Christ. It has to be covered under the blood that was shed on Calvary. He gives us “all things that pertain to life and godliness”, (2 Peter‬ ‭1:3). We have the Word of God to study, guide us, to enable us to live in freedom. We simply have to accept His help and strength which he so generously gives us.

Dear Lord: Help us to listen to your Word in all things and surrender to your leading. We yield to your love so we can gain that freedom and strength that only comes in trusting you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.