Vision has been defined as a combination of a deep dissatisfaction with what is, and a clear grasp of what could be.
John Stott
As a young college student, I became deeply involved in youth ministry. Each week, I joined a team of fellow students and spent an afternoon at the local public junior high school. At first, I felt overwhelmed by the idea of re-entering the chaos of junior high, recalling my own experiences from that time. However, what I discovered changed my life. As an introvert, I never thought I would participate in outreach to junior high students, but I realized that my shyness had turned into a form of selfishness. I was more concerned about my own feelings than about meeting the needs of others. So, I took a bold step — for me — and walked onto the campus. This decision transformed my entire perspective on truly loving others.
My heart began to feel burdened to reach these students for Christ. I started to connect with kids each week, and what began as a weekly outreach evolved into multiple meetings a week for deeper conversations, fun activities, and even early morning prayer times.
Recently, I found the small Bible I carried on the campus over thirty years ago and noticed a note I had written on the inside cover. It said, “Break my heart for the things that break yours!” This prayer became my mission, and God graciously began to show me His love for these kids and how He wanted to express that love.
I envisioned what their lives could be like if they chose to commit themselves fully to God. I couldn’t accept the idea of these students going through life without someone introducing them to their Creator, which fueled my passion to reach as many of them as possible.
So, how does one discover a vision for their life?
While many workbooks and strategic planning courses claim to provide answers, perhaps the process is simpler than we think. It may just involve three key steps:
- Intimacy with God. We need to spend time in God’s presence to understand what He, our Creator, has designed us for. When Moses was leading the Israelites out of slavery, his connection with God shaped his vision for their future. In Exodus, we see Moses conversing with the Lord for guidance on the next steps. Interestingly, we also read about Joshua, Moses’ young aide and the next leader, who spent intimate time with God. The Israelites had set up a Tent of Meeting for those who wanted to inquire of God. Exodus 33:11 reveals Joshua’s desire, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.” Joshua stayed in God’s presence, soaking in His truth, character, heart, and vision for his own life and that of those he would soon lead.
- Seeing others through the lens of Christ. Throughout the New Testament, we witness Jesus’ compassion for humanity. He looked beyond people’s choices and temperaments, seeing deep into their souls to call forth what could be. (Romans 4:17). The more time we spend in communion with Christ, the more compassion we develop for those around us, becoming conduits of God’s hope and grace. We begin to see others as Christ sees them, and our actions will reflect His.
- Stepping into the brokenness of others. As we deepen our intimacy with God, we start to see others through His eyes, prompting us to engage with their brokenness as He would. Our focus shifts from self to others, guiding them toward Christ. If we define vision as “a combination of deep dissatisfaction with what is and a clear understanding of what could be,” we begin to feel dissatisfied with the brokenness around us, motivating us to lead others to an abundant life in Christ.
We all possess different skills, talents, and interests specifically designed to reach certain people. We are all unique. Not everyone will share the same vision or approach to fulfilling God’s heart in the world, and that is the beauty of His creation.
Ultimately, having a vision for our lives is about living the life that God intended for us. To achieve this, it all starts with intimacy with Him.
May we continue to live…
Rooted in Him,
