The night before last I had a long, involved golfing dream.

On the first hole, we were teeing off from way up high. The hole down below was in a valley that reminded me of the Grand Canyon. We started from something like a clubhouse. There was a whole team of people, some of them being my friends and family, who were providing me with everything I could possibly need to be happy and successful: balls, tees, snacks, drinks, a hat, advice, etc. There was even some pretty girl that might have been flirting with me.

Some other people went before me so I could see the various routes the ball could take. Then it was my turn. I whiffed my shot and it barely made it over the edge. I could hear the people kinda groaning, like, oh-no, that’s not possibly going to work. The ball rolled along the ground, picking up speed. As it approached the flag it was going about 40 mph. Then, CLUNK, it was suddenly in the cup! A completely surprising, ridiculously improbable hole-in-one. They celebrated and congratulated me as if I had anything to do with it.

The next hole was similar. Again, we were shooting downhill from something like a clubhouse. But this time, no one is helping me. You know those dreams where you can’t run, or you can’t whatever? Well this was like that. First I couldn’t find a ball that wasn’t damaged. Then I couldn’t find a place to tee off from that wasn’t obstructed. Some people were practicing chip shots in my direction. I got hit in the head with a ball. No food, no drinks, no cheering. It went on like this forever. And the flirty girl was just an unhelpful distraction.

I swung several times and missed the ball completely. Then I accidentally bumped the ball off the tee and it rolled into a nearby water trap. There goes two swings before I even got started. My actual shot, when I made contact, was terrible.

When I woke up, I asked God what it all meant. What’s the difference between getting the hole-in-one (symbolizing some sort of success) and not?

1. It’s not my swing – they were both lousy (not how well I perform)
2. It’s not my team – though it could look like it, because they supported me on the successful shot, but really, that wasn’t the difference
3. It’s not my focus/purity – I was distracted by the flirty girl on both holes
4. It’s just a miracle – the physics of the first shot didn’t even make sense (it just went in because God wanted it to go in)

When I started this job, the verse God gave me was:

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty. – Zechariah 4:6

• “might” can be translated army – I think of my team
• “power” can be translated ability – my abilities

So: “Not by your how strong your team is, nor by how skilled you are, but by my Spirit” says the Lord Almighty.

How often I forget. I really like my teammates. It’s like, wow, these people have such potential. I really like working hard. It’s like, oh, if I could just get this done. And it’s never about that.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

The day I woke up from the dream, we got together with some old family friends. One of them made a legit hole-in-one earlier that day. What!? God told me he set that up to confirm my dream, while she of course only views it as her personal experience. Then he said, “see?” We keep thinking the story is about us, when really, it’s all about Him.

I spent a good chunk of the next day in worship and praise. Because it’s not up to me. Because he’s so good. Because I can just trust. Because he’s so involved in my life. Because he loves me.