Family Story: Develop the Plan {Why We Need Vision}

Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18

We are 14 days from the onset of Spring and it cannot come too soon, in my opinion. Winter has taken its toll on me, both physically and emotionally. It’s hard to plan with unpredictable weather and honestly, the cold makes me depressed and longing for comfort – which for me gives way to laziness, apathy and overeating.

So needless to say, my family is currently in a place where we need vision in our lives. Even before this winter, for so long we’ve lived in survival mode; dealing with loss, constant transition and adjusting to life with young children. But the children are growing and it’s time we developed a plan for living our best, most intentional life – one we’ll read back through years from now and be proud to call our story.

The word Spring is actually rooted in words meaning “beginning” and “opening” or “bursting forth.” What a perfect time to cast vision for the future, as we look towards the beginning of a new season, full of promise and possibility.

We’re entering the final stage of our family story development and this month we’ll focus on family vision. If values are the WHY and mission is the WHAT then vision is the HOW.

It’s not enough to know why we value certain things and what we want to do with our time. In order to live an effective family story, we must figure out how to put our values and mission into action. Casting spirit-led vision and planning ahead allows us to craft our story in partnership with God’s guidance rather than react to circumstances and situations {like I’ve been doing for so long. . .ahem}.

So often I get bogged down just trying to make it in the midst of every small detail of life that I miss out on the opportunity to think big and dream about what I want life to look like 6 months, a year or 5 years from now. If I want to set my family on a course that leads to the purpose I believe God has for us, I need to spend time looking forward to the future. Next week we will talk about the difference between short term and long term family vision and why we need both. Casting vision {both short and long term} is vital to our effectiveness as a family just as much as it is to a business or ministry. Author and futurist Alvin Toffler says it this way,

You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.

With eyes fixed on both our daily details and our future hopes, we can lead our family in writing an amazing story with our lives. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Without a balance between living well in the moment and planning for what is ahead, we will never thrive as individuals or as a family.

When I think of vision, I always go back to the story of Habakkuk. This man, a prophet, was in the midst of great turmoil in Judah. He questioned the evil that seemed to be prominent and why God could allow it to go on. In God’s response, he asks Habakkuk and the people of Judah to be patient and to trust him.

God speaks clearly to Habakkuk in chapter 2 verse 2-3,

Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

I refer back to this verse often, especially when faced with a season of waiting. Even if our vision does not come to life immediately. . .as the Lord spoke to Habakkuk. . .we should wait for it expectantly. It’s never too early to cast vision for the life we want to live and when we think ahead this way, we empower ourselves to live intentionally instead of always reacting to what comes our way.

This month as snow fades, atmospheres warm and buds begin to burst, take some time to ask the Lord to bring vision to life in your heart. Spend time praying with your family about the story you desire to write over the next 6 months, 1 year, 5 years. . . Begin writing it down so that, as God leads, you may run with it towards the destiny he has for your family.

Friends, do you need vision for your family? What do you sense he is leading you towards in the short and long term of your story?