God- given visions are usually not an easy feat and the challenge could be overwhelming. There are times we even think that achieving the vision would be impossible.

Has God given you a vision? Perhaps it wasn’t an actual vision in the middle of the night. Maybe it’s just a fluttering in your heart. A whisper the Spirit speaks into the stillness. Your vision might be to foster a child, start a new business, homeschool your child, write a book or like me pursue a creative means of livelihood and solely trust Him for provision.

Whatever it is, you might be looking at the task and feel as if it’s impossible. You might doubt that you have the strength and courage to accomplish it. You may think that other people are meant to do great things for God and well, you’re just…you.

Oh, dear one, don’t believe the lies of the enemy. If God has given you a vision, He can provide every resource you need to accomplish it. Here are five truths to carry with you as you start your journey toward the vision God has given you…

Begin with Talking To God

Don’t immediately rush out and begin gathering tools, supplies, and people to help you with the vision. Don’t start with a list of daily to-dos. Don’t rush to create a timeline or try to get buy-in from other people who maybe cannot (or would not) see your vision.

No, start by praying. Make your prayer simple. First, call out God as faithful (Nehemiah 1:5). When you start your prayers by acknowledging one of God’s attributes, it honors God and it also reminds you of your smallness. This humbles you and puts you in the right frame of mind.

You are having a conversation with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You have entered the throne room of Ultimate Power. The One you are speaking to has no rival or equal throughout all of history. This is the One to whom you are speaking. Approach His throne with familiarity and love but also reverence and trembling.

During Nehemiah’s prayer, he confesses his sins and the sins of his country (Nehemiah 1:6-7). Prayer must always include an honest evaluation of where we are and what we’ve done.

Confessing isn’t for God’s benefit. He already knows every decision you’ve made. It’s for your benefit. Confession cleanses the soul and renews the mind. It causes you to embrace a Spirit of humility and gentleness.

The third thing that you should do as you pray is to remind God of His promises. God is not forgetful as humans are bound to be.

In Isaiah 49, the city of Zion declares that the Lord has forgotten her. And this is His beautiful reply…

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)

Although you may at times fear that God has forgotten you or forgotten His promises to you, let this truth take deep root in your heart today: you are tattooed on God’s very palm.

 

You’ve heard the expression, “I know that like the back of my hand”? That is how God knows you. He knows you deeply and intimately. He has never once forgotten a promise He’s made and He’s not about to start now.

So why then do you need to take the time to recall His promise? Not for God’s benefit. But for your own. You are reminding your own heart of God’s faithfulness and so you further honor God in your prayer.

Only after having acknowledged the Holiness and Worthiness of the King, confessing your sins, and reviewing God’s past promises should you take a fourth and final step. You ask for God’s help.

Please be aware of your approach. Spend more time focusing on your relationship with God and showing Him deep reverence than you do making your request.

Realize That Your Help Comes From God

It’s easy to get so caught up in what’s happening around you that you believe you need the favor of others. Perhaps because you want a foster child, you need the favor of the social worker. Maybe because you want to start a business, you need the favor of a local investor. Perhaps because you want to homeschool your child, you need the favor of the school board. Maybe you’re writing a book and you need the favor of an agent or editor.

But no matter who seems to be the one “in power” in the situation, never forget that favor comes from the Lord.

Proverbs 21:1 beautifully illustrates this concept. “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.” (NLT)

No matter who you’re facing, you can stand with the confidence that you know the One who controls every heart.

He can soften the heart of a social worker who seemed against you in the beginning. He can cause your school board to look favorably on your family. He can send the right investor to your doorstep. He can guide you to the agent that He has handpicked for your book.

You serve the God who holds every heart in His hand and what’s more, this same God is for you.

In Romans 8:31-32, Paul boldly declares, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

You can rest in the knowledge that no matter who it seems the situation hinges on, God is actually the one in control. His hand is on the wheel, precious one.

 

 

Pause, Consider And Weigh

There may come times when God has given you a vision and it’s not yet time to share it with many people. Perhaps God has called you to work in silence for a season while He positions the resources and tools you need. Maybe God is still moving you into the right place to accomplish His vision.

Maybe you’re one of those people that likes to jump in feet-first. You think you’ll figure it out along the way. You’re more than prepared to do great things for God. All He has to do is hand you a list and step out of the way.

But one of the wisest things you can do before you begin a project or a new journey is to pause and evaluate. Often saying “yes” to something new means saying “no” to something else.

You might feel God prompting you to go back to school in the evenings, so what will you need to give up to make that happen? Will you have to cut back on your TV time or simplify your nightly routine? Do you need to talk with your spouse and kids and get them on board with helping out more?

There are no right or wrong answers here. But it is important to count the cost long before you start.

Consider whether the vision you have is truly from God and if you deeply long for it. Do you want it enough to risk being uncomfortable as you’re stretched into a new place? Do you desire it so strongly that you’re willing to make changes to your current routine?

It might be helpful to talk these answers over with one trusted friend or your spouse. If you have no one or don’t feel led to share your vision just yet, consider journaling the answers instead.

Trust God To Make A Way

When God has given you a vision, you can trust Him to provide the way.

“And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.” – Nehemiah 2:8

Note that Nehemiah didn’t say “because the king was gracious” or “because I asked so eloquently” or even “because my plan was flawless”. What Nehemiah does in this instance and throughout the book is point back to God’s favor and goodness.

Did you know that God delights in you? Do you believe it? When something good happens in your life, do you point back to it and say, “God blessed me with…”?

Maybe you have trouble with this concept. Perhaps you’ve never known what it’s like to be “delighted in”. Your father was abusive. Your mother rejected you. Your siblings mocked you. Your friends betrayed you. You feel used up and unwanted. You doubt that God could look at you and see anything worth “delighting in”.

Oh, but He does, dear one. He enjoys the sound of your laugh. He chose the freckles that would dust your shoulders. He picked the color of your hair and chose exactly where that one birthmark would be placed.

He knit you together (Psalm 139:13). God Himself chose every element of your DNA. You are His creation, and you delight Him. Not because of what you’ve done or haven’t done. Not because of what you’ve said or haven’t said.

You delight God simply because you are His unique creation. You are His child, and your very existence fills Him with joy. He rejoices over you. He sings over you every night (Zephaniah 3:17) and carries you in His arms each day (Deuteronomy 1:31, Psalm 68:19).

Like Nehemiah, you can boldly proclaim that “the gracious hand of God is upon me”.

Be Aware That The Road Ahead Will Be Rough

You might think that just because God gave you a vision, everything should flow smoothly. While that does happen occasionally, the sad truth is that most of the time things don’t work that way.

You’ve no sooner picked up the hammer to start “restoring your wall” then trouble shows up. You decide to write the book of your heart only to suddenly have new caregiving responsibilities added to your days.

You decide to start the business that God has laid on your heart only to learn that your house has toxic mold, and you’ll need to live somewhere else during the renovations.

You decide to go back to school to get your degree and pursue that passion God has given you only to have the scholarships fall through at the last minute.

So, how do you handle these situations? Should you bite your nails and fret? Should you throw in the towel and give up now? Should you despair of ever seeing the vision God has given you come to life?

Too many times in life, we give away ground to our enemy who has no right to be there in the first place.

As a child of God, you have the Spirit of the Overcomer within you. Consider these parting words that Jesus gave to His disciples…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

What if you took that verse and you personalized it to your situation today? What would that look like? Maybe something like this…

• “I have told you these things, Sarah, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you have financial difficulties. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
• “I have told you these things, David, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you have chronic illness. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
• “I have told you these things, Tia so that in me you may have peace. In this world you have marital struggles. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

What if you wrote out the verse right now with your name and your trouble? This is what it might look like…

• “I have told you these things, (your name), so that in me you may have peace. In this world you have (your struggle). But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Victory is yours for the taking. Not because of who you are or what you’ve done. But because of who your Savior is and what He has done.

You don’t have to snivel in the corner when obstacles come your way. You don’t have to fret about how you’re going to pay for that degree or where your next meal is coming from. You don’t have to bow to the darkness that’s telling you that you’ll never overcome the addictions that have plagued your family.

You can live free. You can walk in victory. But first, you have to understand that you are already victorious. You are an overcomer simply because you are a beloved child of God.

Paul, the man who had faced false imprisonment, persecution, and sorrow proudly proclaimed to the Roman church, “Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, NLT).

Pursue God And Pursue Your Vision

Whatever vision God has given you, He can accomplish. You might be saying that you’re not qualified. That you’re not smart enough to homeschool your child or strong enough to foster a hurting child or polished enough to write a book.

But that’s the thing about it. God is not looking for “enough” because He is enough. He’s looking for broken vessels that are completely surrendered to Him. He’ll do the rest.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8

Heed the call today, precious one. Strike out in faith and go after the vision God has planted in your heart. This will be the adventure of a lifetime!