When ancient map makers reached a place of uncharted territory, they would write “Here be dragons” and draw a picture of the mythical beast. This served as a warning to anyone who dared venture into those areas that they were filled with potential danger, possibly of epic proportions.

We know the rest of the story. Eventually, those lands and regions were explored, and there were no dragons. There were dangers, and people encountered enormous obstacles in taming the wild unknown. But there was nothing that could not be defeated through raw strength.

When we paint a picture of our possible futures, we often dream of doing great things for God. Yet, we have never attempted anything like it, so we label those areas with “Here be dragons.” The potential risks overshadow the possibilities. We give up our dreams for fear of the unknown.

Occasionally, we must be reminded that there are no dragons there, just obstacles we can overcome with faith, strength, and perseverance.