DANCING DREAMS

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5

One thing I love doing is encouraging young, aspiring dancers who are on the verge of their professional dancing career. They are right in that crazy, scary, and exciting time of trying to figure out where their dancing heart belongs….where they fit in….and they are wondering if they have what it takes to be a professional dancer. Many times, their hearts are discouraged when I hear from them because their dancing dreams are not panning out the way they had hoped. Quite simply, there is not a job for them…and they are in a place of…. “Do I keep trying to dance or do I give up and move on?” I know how it feels to want to dance professionally so badly, but you feel stuck because there are no opportunities before you. I know how it feels when you wonder if it’s time to let the dream go. I know your heart hurts because you feel like you cannot find a spot in the dance world.

I want to encourage those dancing hearts out there who are deeply discouraged because they simply….don’t know what to do….this post was inspired by a reader’s email, so thank you (you know who you are) for your inspiration….

If you are in that place of WANTING to dance, but you have either been turned down by a company, let go, or you simply cannot find a job dancing….take your concerns to God. Write it all down to Him and tell Him every concern. Take some time to pray over your concerns and ask the Lord for guidance.

If your heart really wants to dance, then I encourage you to send your resume, photos, recommendation letters, and a video if possible to as many companies as you can. I sent out my information to about twenty five companies when I was first searching for a dancing job. As you send out your information, surrender it to God….letting your heart in a way say, “Here you go, Lord. I surrender my dancing dreams to You…whatever You want….I want Your plans for my dancing.” Then, be ready for LOTS of rejection letters. I have a good stack of rejection letters! Be ready for some not to get back to you. Be ready for some “maybes” and hopefully, there just might be one little yes in there!

Many times, if a company is interested in you, they will ask you to come to their city so they can see you dance in person. I flew to North Carolina years ago, took class, and all they said was…. “You’re not strong enough for our company.” Ug….it hurt my heart. I flew to Seattle to hear, “we really only take dancers from our school….” Ouch. Finally, I got a yes but it took stepping out of my comfort zone and sending off my information to get there. If they ask to see you in person, pray about it, and go if you feel like God is leading you because you just never know!

God can open doors that no else can! I would say if there are NO open doors, THEN consider moving on from dancing, but if a door is open, pray about it, and consider it because dancing jobs are so hard to come by!

Whatever the case, whether you find a job or not, know this….

God has a plan for your life that you can’t even fathom right now…it may include dancing and it may not. But you can TRUST Him….the best thing you can do right now is to press into your relationship with Him, give all your concerns to Him, pray through this waiting process, and let Him lead you. He will slowly reveal His plan to you over time. Dare to trade in your plan for His.

Let your heart be in a state of surrender….ready to dance, ready to move on….trusting His plan is a perfect fit for you.

So if you’re in that place of wondering if you should dance or not, send out your information, pray about it, and see what happens! God will show you. God will lead you. And He loves to surprise you and amaze you! In this searching time, God will will shape your heart, and if you let Him, He will shape your desires and dreams.

Take it all to Him because your relationship with Him is where you will find all that you are looking for: satisfaction, peace, and joy. He will use this delicate process of searching for a dancing job to draw you close to His heart.

You don’t have to manipulate things into happening….you don’t have to figure it all out and analyze it…you don’t have to make it happen! The opportunities that God has planned for you will come your way when you seek Him first. Letting your heart be in a state of surrender gives God opportunities to sweep you off your feet with surprises!

And as I type these words, my dancing heart remembers that these simple truths for our dancing paths, can apply to our non-dancing paths and dreams as well. I am reminded that I don’t have to force my plans, my dreams, and my ideas into happening….I am reminded that surrendering to God and His plans is a far better way to live. I am reminded that my relationship with Him is what it is about! I am reminded that this dreaming, this hoping, this waiting….it’s all dancing with Him through the paths of life…and the point is is growing closer to the One who dreams up the dreams for my heart. He’s got it all. He knows the plan. My job, to trust. His job, to work it all out. And I am reminded that I don’t want to get in the way of His plans because they are best! I am relieved to remember that I don’t have to figure it all out!

Today, I hope your dancing or non-dancing heart is encouraged to bring your dreams to God….letting Him work out the details.

Prayer: “Lord, here are all my dancing dreams. Lord, here is my heart. Show me where You want me. Guide my life. Help my heart to want YOUR plans for my life. I surrender it all to you.”