Getting A Vision For Your Life
For many people, this past year brought changes no one saw coming: job loss, unexpected moves, heartbreak, sickness, and fears for the future. Maybe you’ve felt like me: gratitude for peace, family, and safety, but uncertainty about what the future holds. Even more than that, I’ve been feeling uncertain how to step forward in faith to what God has for me.
When I feel this way, I like to be reminded of hope. Hoping for all the things we can imagine for God to do in my life, all the dreams He will bring to pass, as well as committing those dreams to Him in prayer.
“Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed” -Proverbs 16:3 (TLB)
Right now, however, it’s difficult to think that way. How can we make plans when so much is unknown?
That might be how you are feeling right now. Thinking about the future might be the last thing you want to do. We don’t need to fear, though. God promises that the righteous person “does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him” (Psalm 112:7 TLB).
God wants us to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). I’m not afraid to say that we should hope for renewal and restoration despite the devastation we have faced recently. Here’s how to get yourself back in the hope zone:
Create
“And the Lord said to me, ‘Write my answer on a billboard, large and clear, so that anyone can read it at a glance and rush to tell the others’” -Habakkuk 2:2 (TLB)
You were born to create. The Bible says we are to be imitators of our heavenly Father. Since the first thing God did was create, when we do the same, we’re being obedient to God.
Writing down goals clearly and posting them in a visible place, like a bathroom mirror or a nightstand, can be a great source of focus and inspiration. Don’t feel bound to making goals for a short time only—you could write down goals to accomplish in six months, a year, and five years.
Maybe you want to write a book, start a blog or a YouTube channel, make a movie —or all of the above. Pursue your dream. Take that step of faith and just start—but most importantly, believe God for it.
“…Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” -1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)
Pray
When I was a kid, I used to look forward to Christmas and birthdays like anything could happen—my biggest dreams on those days could come true, because I had loving parents, and I knew and believed the love they had for me (1 John 4:16).
God wants us to ask Him for things. He is a good Father who wants to take care of His kids. Recently I’ve been trying to picture God as a dad who wants to get his kids the best gifts ever. I can live my whole life like a kid at Christmas, looking forward with excitement to what God’s going to give us.
“But if you stay in me and obey my commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce bountiful harvests. This brings great glory to my Father.” -John 15:7-8 (TLB)
What are you going to ask God for in 2021?
Act
How do we take that step of faith?
Goals that are specific, measurable, and attainable are the most likely to get accomplished.
Many times, I start out a week with a litany of goals and a faint idea in my head of how to get them accomplished during the limited hours of free time in a given day. Then, when the time comes, I feel too overwhelmed even to get started…and that’s when the couch becomes my friend, and I scroll way too far down Pinterest’s infinite depths.
Recently, I was feeling stuck, and someone gave me advice to start setting smaller goals. Instead of attempting to finish an entire project in one afternoon, I set a goal of checking off three to four steps of that project in a week. I also wrote a list of everything I needed to do to accomplish to complete the goal, so that when I found myself with free time, I could choose the steps I was able to accomplish that day. I accomplished more than I had in months, and not only that, I felt way better about myself and my goals.
Go!
“Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” -Matthew 28:19 (TLB)
“So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.” -Ephesians 5:15-16 (TLB)
“Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father” -Matthew 5:16 (TLB)
As we make plans and goals for the future, let’s remember to shine our light before men, knowing that when the world sees the good things God does for us, they will glorify God.
While the past year felt like one long stretch of trouble, I’m refusing to be discouraged. What comes next may be the joyful morning after a long night of sorrow. We have been experiencing a tough time, but tough times don’t last—tough people do.
“Those who sow tears shall reap joy” -Psalm 126:5 (TLB)
“One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning” -Psalm 30:5b (NET)
The great thing about that verse? A night is only eight hours long. It’s not going to last forever. And then morning comes. Welcome to your new day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Becca Mahoney has written viral articles for Screenrant.com, and is a contributor to Crown of Beauty Magazine. She holds a Specialization in Creative Writing from Wesleyan University. She writes a baking and lifestyle blog at Sugar Salt Grace.