We all carry deep desires that consume our hearts. Could God plant these longings within us so that when He fulfills them, we can help others achieve the same? Harriet Tubman’s life suggests exactly that.
She left in the dead of night, silent as a leopard, sneaking through woods, fields, and waterways. Allies provided food, shelter, and directions. Through the difficult 90-mile journey to freedom, God gave her strength.
“What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.” — Proverbs 10:24
“When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such glory over everything,” Harriet Tubman said. But her own freedom did not satisfy her. She returned to Maryland to rescue her family and later helped hundreds of enslaved African Americans escape through the Underground Railroad. Though she knew capture meant death, God gave her strength and courage to continue. Her dream for freedom became God’s dream for the liberation of her people.
“I decided this in my mind: there was one of two things I had a right to—liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other,” she said.
Even after securing freedom for herself and hundreds of others, Harriet served as spy, scout, nurse, and cook for the Union Army during the Civil War. Her efforts helped end slavery in the United States. Just as Harriet Tubman had a God-given calling, so does each of us.
Like Harriet, you have dreams that feel impossible. Close your eyes and imagine you have crossed that line to your impossible dreams. Taste the freedom you feel. Now imagine God whispering: this is not just for you. I want you to lead others to their promised land.
God’s Plan for You
The freedom Harriet Tubman desperately wanted for herself became the freedom she fought to give hundreds of others. What if the same pattern exists in our lives today? What would it be like to cross that line into my own impossible dream?
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11
God has a dream for my life. I may not see the full picture, but I know the great things He has already done—He helped me overcome depression, blessed me with a supportive family and good friends, and provided opportunities to impact lives through my job and volunteer work.
For the future, I can only take one step at a time, trusting that He has good things in store. Life isn’t always easy, but even trials serve a purpose. God has not revealed His whole plan, but as long as I seek His will, He will continue to guide me.
For Harriet Tubman, the greatest desire of her heart was freedom. Through faith and courage, she achieved it—and then led others to freedom too.
Could the deepest longing of my heart be something God wants to give me as well? And when He does, I will use it to help others.
What Do You Desire?
What is the greatest desire of your heart? Could God be calling you to lead others to their own “promised land”? Write about your deep unfulfilled desires and ask what God is telling you about them.
Sources and References:
The Bible. New International Version, Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2010%3A24&version=NIV.
The Bible. New International Version, Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2029%3A11&version=NIV.
“Harriet Tubman: Biography, Abolitionist, Underground Railroad.” Biography, [URL if available].
“Harriet Tubman.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harriet-Tubman.
“Harriet Tubman: Facts, Underground Railroad & Legacy.” History, A&E Television Networks, https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/harriet-tubman.
“6 Strategies Harriet Tubman and Others Used to Escape Along the Underground Railroad.” History, A&E Television Networks, https://www.history.com/news/underground-railroad-escape-strategies.
“bria_29_2:Layout 1.qxd.” [Provide full publication details if available].
“Harriet Tubman Posthumously Named a General on Veterans Day.” AP News, https://apnews.com/article/harriet-tubman-general-veterans-day.