The difference between a good idea and a vision from God
For the last 5 years of my life, I have been committed to a vision that God gave me a few years ago for a campus ministry that focused on bringing young people into a real, life changing, world shaking relationship with Jesus Christ. My vision was never to just get people to bible study, but it was to get people to experience an intimate face-to-face relationship with the God of creation. I started the ministry as student myself, and I have seen this ministry literally change the face of the campus. The ministry has been featured in campus newspapers, magazines, award ceremonies, and many other things. But far more importantly, its been featured in the hearts of many young people who have come face to face with God and have had their lives changed forever!
But, as I reflect on the good, I am also reminded of the “not so good”. I am reminded of the times no one showed up to prayer meetings. I am reminded of the depression and loneliness that I felt in pioneering something that had never really been done before on campus. I am reminded of the looks and sounds of disapproval when I shared about this vision. I am reminded of the deep disappointment from people who promised to support the vision, but never came through. I am reminded of the people who talked about me and spread rumors about me because of what I was doing.
The truth is, there were many times I wanted to quit. And if you have a God-given vision, A.K.A “God vision”, for your life, there will be times that you want to quit too. It doesn’t matter what it is: a healthy marriage, a new ministry, a product, a brand. It is an inevitable part of the journey. This is why godly visionaries must first learn to be planters. A planter is not going to put a seed in any kind of soil. That soil must be rich enough to provide nutrients for the seed so that it can grow into what it was destined to be. However, we must first identify the seed and the soil correctly.
Most young visionaries think that the vision is the seed that is being planted. This is not the case though. Godly visionaries plant seeds of faithfulness in the soil of God’s faithfulness. True vision is always birthed in faithfulness. That means quitting is not an option. There is a sense of certainty that a God vision is approached with, because of the seed it is contained in and the soil that is planted in. It’s more than just a good idea or cool thought. It’s foresight into a reality that the world needs to experience. There’s a sense that this is needed and it will happen, it has to happen! When the faithfulness of man meets the faithfulness of God, there must be harvest.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Does this mean that pursuing your dream is always a life long pursuit? Sometimes, but not always. A God vision will always outlive the planter. It may take different forms but it was born to last because of the One who upholds it.
"For if [it's] purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop [it]." Acts 5:38