Dream Small

Is it okay to be ordinary? In Dream Small, Seth Lewis shares the secret power of the ordinary Christian life.

God’s Value System

Lewis begins by letting us know how God does not value things the way we do. When we see things from the perspective of our Creator, we realize that our dreams don’t need to define us. The love of our Creator and our Savior becomes supreme. And when we come to Jesus, he changes everything – including our dreams.

We don’t have to see ourselves as the author of our own story, but we can see ourselves as a character in a story that is bigger than ourselves. This frees us from the security we think money, fame, and health bring. Our plans don’t have to be ultimate. God’s Word, and his promises to us, help us find our place in his story, giving us our identity, and offering the best ending possible – better than we can imagine. Lewis is convincing and convicting.

Climbing Down the Ladder of Success

In a striking analogy, Lewis explains how Jesus climbed down the ladder of success to love us. We can do the same as we learn to love others. Our identity remains secure and our future is sealed. And what’s more, climbing down the ladder actually leads to glory. In God’s eyes, becoming a servant is greater than worldly success. Jesus values those who gives their lives to love the “least of these.” When we lay down our pride and deny our penchant for disobedience, we find Jesus to be our overwhelming satisfaction and joy. 

Building our dreams on God begins by being close to God himself. We will prioritize with his plans in mind. The book gets personal by asking questions such as: “Are you leveraging the assets he has blessed you with for the sake of God and others, or are you using them to gain personal advantage over others?“ In many ways, depth of service to a small number is greater than shallow service to a large number. We can trust that God controls the plot. 

We Are Small, But Loved

This book does not let us off the hook in terms of faithfulness to our calling. We still need to make great effort in pursuing small dreams. We will set aside some of our hopes and learn to make hard choices. Our schedule and skills will need to be examined. I was most challenged when Lewis stated that in regards to skills, the important question is not who’s the best but rather what are my abilities for? We must leverage our talents for the Lord and not for our own glory. Our small investments can yield big rewards.

This book is for those who think that bigger platforms, more money, and worldly success and achievements will bring you greater happiness and satisfy your soul. It will cause you to re-examine your life. It will shift your priorities. It will challenge the patterns of your life and change the priorities of your heart. This book will remind you of what really matters most. We are small, but loved. Freedom and joy, contentment and satisfaction, are found not in ourselves – but in Jesus. 

I received a media copy of Dream Small and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.