How Vision Helps You Overcome Life's Unexpected Challenges

Whether it is a blown-out tire, a layoff from your job, or an unplanned pregnancy, we all at one time have been caught off guard by the circumstances brought on by life. No matter what that was for you, you did what you thought was best to respond and resolve what was in front of you. You may find yourself working out the details haphazardly because things were unplanned. Are you allowing this to be your response or reaction to situations like this?

Are You Reacting or Responding to Life?

Many people live without a clear vision or plan for their life. Instead of leading their path with intention, they react to circumstances as they come. This reactive approach leads to survival mode — a life where you let the world dictate your direction instead of having a personal vision to guide you. People are just responding to what is in front of them. The default plan then becomes survival, this can then lead them into giving the world control to respond for them.

The Danger of Living Without a Vision

Vision is what you see for the future and working towards it as if it is already here to make it a reality. When you have a vision, it answers three questions: Where am I going? How will I get there? What will I need? In moments of crisis or disruption, vision keeps you moving forward — because your eyes are fixed on the bigger picture.

For example, have you ever spoken to a child who strongly wants something? Every time you ask them a question, they have a response. No matter how hard you try to trip them up, they seem to have an answer. We should practice the same resilience when a curveball is thrown our way. We should continue responding until we find the answer.

I heard a pastor once say “without a vision, you will be a slave to your reality”. A person can be blinded from every opportunity, and answer that lies before them because they can’t see past their circumstance. “Life has dealt me a wrong hand” they may say. But what will you deal back? I ask.

Vision Helps You Push Through Setbacks

Vision is important for your life to help you properly respond to what may be going on before you. If I am driving to a destination and my car breaks down, does this mean I no longer go to my destination? No, It just means I won’t arrive when I thought I would. A delay in your journey doesn’t mean defeat or failure. Delays test your resolve, but vision helps you adapt and respond creatively. If life throws a curveball — a job loss, a health scare, or an unexpected event — vision keeps your direction intact.

Are You Dreaming or Seeing?

Maybe you had a vision for your life and a circumstance has obstructed your view of what you once saw and now you no longer believe it. However, your vision is more than a dream, a dream is a drift of imagination and nothing ties you to them but a vision is specific with a directive.

If you no longer see a vision, check if you had one, or were you just dreaming? The enemy could be using this to distract and pull passion away from you until it turns into apathy.

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How Will You Respond Moving Forward?

Vision isn’t only about a strategic plan, it's about seeing and believing. Will your response lead you towards or away from what you have been believing? Once you get over what has happened how might you respond?

Are you living with vision or just reacting to life?

Share your story in the comments below — and if this message spoke to you, check thus post on Things to consider about your Vision

For additional resources checkout our Envision Your Vision Planner