Loretta Fenton encourages us to hold onto our dreams

Loretta Fenton

Everyone knows there exists an unwritten set of rules we must stick to if we want to fit in and be accepted in society. It's a 'secret' code of conduct that we must adhere to if we at least don't want to stick out like a sore thumb from the crowd. Things like, not picking your nose in public, not pointing out that someone has a big spot on their forehead or not telling everyone you meet that you know you're extremely good-looking! There are some things you just don't do! These are the basic principles of this world.

On a more serious note, there are a whole set of 'principles' along with these that tell us how society works and how we fit into it - 'look after number one', 'nothing in life is free', 'don't rise above your station and know your place', 'don't dress like that or talk like that' etc. There certainly exist some controlling 'basic principles' in modern day society. If we listen and comply with these rules we may find ourselves restricted, full of self-doubt being controlled and missing out on what God has for us.

These rules are based on human ideas and have the appearance of wisdom, but keep you in a place that holds your dreams at bay and keeps you from your destiny. They tell you a lie about who you really are and what you can be.

I remember at my first careers interview at school I was asked what I wanted to do with my life, and I boldly announced that I was going to be a singer. I distinctly recall the pitiful look on the teacher's face as she assessed my circumstance and background (from a single-parent family living on a council estate) and she gently put it to me that I should try to focus on a more 'realistic' career. I was devastated, but on the surface of it I had to agree with her - it made sense. Why should I be a singer and get my dream? However, what she wasn't taking into account was the fact that our dreams are given to us by God in the first place and usually the ones that seem the most unrealistic (ones we can't achieve in our own strength) are the ones from Him. Incidentally, I have worked as a professional singer now for the past 10 years!

Whatever you feel you may have missed out on in life - an education, a parent or an opportunity - and whatever you feel your life circumstance or society dictates to you; you are not lacking anything in order to fulfil God's purposes for your life. If you are a Christian you have been made fully qualified by Him and you no longer have to submit to the basic principles of this world that say otherwise. If you're not a Christian, then look into Jesus! God never makes mistakes and he specialises in turning ours into opportunities and blessings even!

In the years I worked as a schools-worker in a band, I met so many young people who allowed their background, circumstance and negative words from others and the opinions of society dictate to them who and what they were going to be. God's economy is the opposite to the world's though: He chooses the foolish things to shame the wise; he humbles the proud and raises the poor. He tells us to trust in Him and not lean on our own understanding - so don't try and figure it all out in human terms - dream big and trust God to do the rest!