--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you've never had a God-sized dream…" description: "\"If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. If you've never been overwhelmed by the impo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/mark-batterson-1137_circles_if-you-ve-never-had-a-god-sized-dream-th_22389.jpg" --- # If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half… ![“If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. If you've never been overwhelmed by the impossibility of your plans, then your God is too small. If your vision isn't perplexingly impossible, then you need to expand the radiuses of your…” quote by Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/mark-batterson-1137_circles_if-you-ve-never-had-a-god-sized-dream-th_22389.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/mark-batterson-1137_circles_if-you-ve-never-had-a-god-sized-dream-th_22389.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/mark-batterson-1137_circles_if-you-ve-never-had-a-god-sized-dream-th_22389.jpg) > “If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. If you've never been overwhelmed by the impossibility of your plans, then your God is too small. If your vision isn't perplexingly impossible, then you need to expand the radiuses of your prayer circles.” [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A life worth living demands grand, intimidating aspirations; if one's dreams feel modest, they are not truly alive. **In simple terms:** Big, scary dreams signal a full life. Key Takeaway Ambition fuels vitality. Themes dreams courage growth purpose Mood inspirational challenging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - artistic projects - personal development Key Concepts existential fulfillment risk tolerance Practical Applications - Set goals that feel daunting to expand comfort zones Questions to Reflect On - What defines a 'God-sized' dream for you? - How do you balance ambition with sustainability? A Different Perspective Extreme ambition can lead to burnout or neglect of practical responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dream Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-scared-401268/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [God Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-small-401265/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Impossibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossibility/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Our prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-prayers/) [Overwhelmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelmed/) [Overwhelmed Impossibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelmed-impossibility-401267/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Plans God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans-god-401266/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [The plans of God are only revealed in the presence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-plans-of-god-are-only-revealed-in-the-presence-of-god/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“I woke myself in the darkness, and I knew only that a dream had scared me so badly that I had to wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-woke-myself-in-the-darkness-and-i-knew-only-that-a-dream-had-scared/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Some people dream because deep down they know they don't have a chance, you dream because you're too scared to take one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reilly-l-braun/some-people-dream-because-deep-down-they-know-they-don-t-have-a-2/) [Reilly L Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reilly-l-braun/) > [You do actor's job for intense scenes like this - you dream about them - and you get scared until the day it finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-weber/you-do-actor-s-job-for-intense-scenes-like-this-you-dream-about-them/) [Stanley Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-weber/) > [Some people dream because deep down they know they don't have a chance, you dream because your too scared to take one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reilly-l-braun/some-people-dream-because-deep-down-they-know-they-don-t-have-a/) [Reilly L Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reilly-l-braun/) > [You'll never be a perfect parent, but you can be a praying parent. Prayer is your highest privilege as a parent. ...Prayer turns ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/you-ll-never-be-a-perfect-parent-but-you-can-be-a-praying-parent-2/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn't offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers-he is offended by Anything Less.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/bold-prayers-honor-god-and-god-honors-bold-prayers-god-isn-t-offended-2/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [God isn't offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren't impossible to you, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/god-isn-t-offended-by-your-biggest-dreams-or-boldest-prayers-he-is/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Ultimately, the transcript of your prayers becomes the script of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/ultimately-the-transcript-of-your-prayers-becomes-the-script-of-your/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Each prayer is like a seed that gets planted in the ground. It disappears for a season, but it eventually bears fruit that blesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/each-prayer-is-like-a-seed-that-gets-planted-in-the-ground-it/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Prayers are prophecies. They are the best predictors of your spiritual future. Who you become is determined by how you pray. Ultimately, the transcript…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/prayers-are-prophecies-they-are-the-best-predictors-of-your-spiritual/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“Human schemes can never carry out the plans of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sailhamer/human-schemes-can-never-carry-out-the-plans-of-god/) [John H. Sailhamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sailhamer/) > [The first part of every day, submit your plans to God and say, God, I know Youre in control so I submit my plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/the-first-part-of-every-day-submit-your-plans-to-god-and-say-god-i/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“You wanna know how to make God laugh?" he said. "Tell him your plans." (God-shaped Hole)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-debartolo/you-wanna-know-how-to-make-god-laugh-he-said-tell-him-your-plans-god/) [Tiffany Debartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-debartolo/) > [Man plans. God laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/man-plans-god-laughs/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) ## More by Mark Batterson > [“The path of least resistance never gets us where we want to go. Shortcuts always end up being cul-de-sacs. The key to spiritual growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-path-of-least-resistance-never-gets-us-where-we-want-to-go/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Part of my driving desire as a pastor is to remove every obstacle except the cross that would keep people from coming to faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/part-of-my-driving-desire-as-a-pastor-is-to-remove-every-obstacle/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [The Bible is the place where God bears His soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-bible-is-the-place-where-god-bears-his-soul/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [One God idea is worth more than a thousand good ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/one-god-idea-is-worth-more-than-a-thousand-good-ideas/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“even if the people could no longer hear God, he believed that God could still hear them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/even-if-the-people-could-no-longer-hear-god-he-believed-that-god/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“100 percent of the prayers I don’t pray won’t get answered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/100-percent-of-the-prayers-i-don-t-pray-won-t-get-answered/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“You can’t play the man if you don’t pray the price. That’s how God turns the heart. You’ll never be a perfect parent, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/you-can-t-play-the-man-if-you-don-t-pray-the-price-that-s-how-god/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [The antidote for fear of failure is not success but small doses of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-antidote-for-fear-of-failure-is-not-success-but-small-doses-of/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [God is in the résumé-building business. He is always using past experiences to prepare us for future opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/god-is-in-the-r-sum-building-business-he-is-always-using-past/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“Society's goal is to make us less foolish. From the cradle to grave the pressure is on: "Be normal!" Our inner fool may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/society-s-goal-is-to-make-us-less-foolish-from-the-cradle-to-grave/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [If you aren't hungry for God, you are full of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/if-you-aren-t-hungry-for-god-you-are-full-of-yourself/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [In my experience, take the Holy Spirit out of the equation of your life and it spells boring. Add it into the equation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/in-my-experience-take-the-holy-spirit-out-of-the-equation-of-your/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [When we cling too tightly to what God did last, we often miss what God wants to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/when-we-cling-too-tightly-to-what-god-did-last-we-often-miss-what-god/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Uniqueness isn't a virtue. It's a responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/uniqueness-isn-t-a-virtue-it-s-a-responsibility/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Do you trust that God is for you even when He doesn’t give you what you asked for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/do-you-trust-that-god-is-for-you-even-when-he-doesn-t-give-you-what/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) [Explore all 283 Mark Batterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## More Circles quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [Gambling has held human beings in thrall for millennia. It has been engaged in everywhere, from the dregs of society to the most respectable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-bernstein/gambling-has-held-human-beings-in-thrall-for-millennia-it-has-been/) [Peter L. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-bernstein/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Maybe this is a way of gaslighting myself, but I think of it this way: In certain circles, my grandpa was considered to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/maybe-this-is-a-way-of-gaslighting-myself-but-i-think-of-it-this-way/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [All my life's a circle; But I can't tell you why; Season's spinning round again; The years keep rollin' by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/all-my-life-s-a-circle-but-i-can-t-tell-you-why-season-s-spinning/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [There's when a phrase circles in my head in a number of ways for any number of days, weeks, or months, and then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/there-s-when-a-phrase-circles-in-my-head-in-a-number-of-ways-for-any/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [I have no name for what circles so perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-have-no-name-for-what-circles-so-perfectly/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-fight-against-syphilis-demands-a-fight-against-prostitution/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Tell them you came, and saw, and looked into my eyes and saw the shadow of the guard receding. 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Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) [Browse all 1,860 Circles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. If you've never been overwhelmed by the impossibility of your plans, then your God is too small. 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