Dreams that Pass the Jesus Test

“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Luke 7:22

When John the Baptist wrestled with doubt, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus a fundamental question: “Are you the one who is to come?” Jesus’ answer wasn’t a simple “yes.” Instead, He pointed to the evidence. He essentially said, “Look at the outcomes. Look at who is being blessed.”

And that’s exactly the lens we need when we talk about our own dreams and callings. The question isn’t just, “Is it exciting?” but, “Does it bear the kind of fruit Jesus pointed to?”

This is the ultimate test for any dream or calling we claim is from God. It’s not about the size of the stage or the feeling of fulfilment. It’s about the fruit specifically, fruit that serves the least, the last, and the lost.

So, how do you apply the Jesus Test to your dream? How do we know if a dream is from God or just our own ambition?

When God gives a dream, the dreamer is inside the story, but the story is always bigger than the dreamer. What am I saying? When God gives a dream or calls someone, it’s rarely just for them. The gift is personal, but the purpose is always bigger. God’s dreams are almost always for the sake of others.

This is why wise leaders keep their eyes open. They know God’s call is never just about their own fulfilment, but about the lives that will be touched through them.

Wise leaders constantly ask, “Who else will be affected by this? How does this serve a purpose bigger than my own?” They seek the intent of God, which always stretches beyond their own horizon.

The Bible gives us clear examples of this pattern.

Joseph’s dreams positioned him not for glory, but to save nations from famine (Gen. 50:20). Abraham was blessed specifically to be a blessing to “all peoples on earth.” (Gen 12).

If your dream doesn’t serve the poor, the stranger, or the broken, it might just be your own reflection.

Lord, examine my dreams. Let me hold them up to the light of your mission. If they are from you, they will inevitably lead me to the poor, the broken, and the lost. Align my desires with your heart. Make me a conduit of your healing and good news, so that my life—and my dreams—pass the Jesus Test. Amen.

Kay Alli