If you’ve been stuck in survival mode—just trying to make it through the day—it’s hard to imagine what it would even look like to dream with God again. When you’re worn out, burned out, or walking through a never-ending hard season, dreaming feels like a luxury… something for “other” women with fewer responsibilities, less pain, or more margin.
I know, because I’ve been there.
WHEN DREAMING FEELS IMPOSSIBLE
During my last major health flare, I was exhausted—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I wasn’t dreaming with God. I was just hoping I could get through the day without breaking down. My body hurt, my mind was clouded with brain fog and anxiety, and I was disconnected from everything that once felt life-giving.
I stopped journaling.
I stopped reading my Bible.
Not because I stopped believing, but because I was just… tired.
And when I finally picked up my journal again, it felt awkward. Forced. Like I was trying to reconnect with someone I hadn’t talked to in months—because honestly, I was.
But something in me knew I couldn’t stay in that place.
Not if I wanted healing.
Not if I wanted peace.
And definitely not if I wanted to dream with God again.
WHY WE SETTLE FOR SURVIVAL MODE
Here’s the thing: as believers, we don’t tolerate sin— We fight it, we confess it, and we turn from it. But when it comes to our mental and physical health, we often cope with it. We manage our pain, identify and claim our ailments, saying things such as, “I have anxiety,” “I am an autoimmuner,” “I am diabetic.”
We chalk it up to “life is just hard right now,” and while that may be true, it’s not the full truth.
Jesus came to give us life—abundant life (John 10:10).
And survival mode, illness, and disease? That’s not abundance.
That’s not your inheritance as a daughter of the King. Our identity is children of God.
Survival may be familiar, but it’s not your forever.
And while life will have tribulation (John 16:33), we were never meant to live in crisis mode long-term.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO DREAM WITH GOD AGAIN
Dreaming with God isn’t about building your own platform or hustling toward “success.” It’s about aligning your heart with His. It’s about quieting the noise, tuning into His voice, and asking:
“Lord, what do You want to awaken in me?”
As I slowly got back into daily journaling and spending time in the Word, I noticed something changing—not just spiritually, but mentally and physically too. I began thinking differently. Instead of repeating “Nothing will ever change,” I started believing “God will walk me through this. – step by step”
That one thought changed my actions:
- I began eating to nourish instead of numb
- I gave myself permission to rest
- I stopped speaking harshly to myself
- I started creating again—writing, dreaming, reconnecting with purpose
And little by little, I didn’t just feel better. I felt alive.
HOW YOU CAN START DREAMING BIG WITH GOD TODAY
If you’re ready to get out of survival mode and start dreaming with God again, here are a few small but powerful steps to help you start:
1. Rest Intentionally
Dreams need space. If your schedule is packed and your mind is overloaded, there’s no room for divine inspiration. Make room—spiritually and practically—for rest.
2. Get Honest
Tell God how you’re really doing. You don’t have to filter your pain or force a fake smile. He already knows, and He loves you in it.
3. Pick Up Your Journal Again
Even if it feels awkward. Even if it’s just one sentence. Start writing. Invite the Holy Spirit to meet you there.
4. Shift Your Thoughts
Ask God to help you see your current season through His perspective, not just your own. Gratitude can shift your mindset, even if the circumstances haven’t changed.
5. Obey the Last Thing God Told You
Sometimes we wait for a big dream when God’s just waiting for us to respond to the last thing He whispered. Start there. Obedience always leads to clarity.
FRIEND, YOU WERE MEANT TO DREAM WITH GOD
You weren’t created to live in burnout and call it obedience.
You weren’t made to settle for numbness and call it peace.
Friend, you were created to dream—with God, through God, and for God’s glory.
And if all you can do today is take a breath and say, “Lord, I want to want again,”—that’s enough. He can work with that. He always has.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Amy Wadlington
Featured Image by Julio Lopez on Unsplash
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