New Year Visions

An author quickly discerns the unexpected timing of inspiration. An idea surfaces, and without submission to its call, the literary end product will most definitely not reflect the same impact and emotions as intended. So you stop, drop, and roll with it, as they say.

As I prepared to host my first Vision Board New Year’s Eve Potluck with a few new friends rebuilding from divorce, I thought to share my goal setting exercises to help them visualize their new directions and dreams for their future heart’s desires. The first step in the exercise was to find gratitude for the multitude of basic blessings in the perimeters of our lives that we normally take for granted (example: food and shelter.)

For instance, exactly one year ago, my “one thing” was to publish my first book. Its writing and preparations were an arduous journey of sacrifice and self-doubt, but with a strategic plan, hard work, and focus, the book was finally published in October 2024. It was a proud moment, but I also knew deep within me that this life event was nothing short of a God thing. He surrounded that goal with provision, people and events that contributed to my inner call to complete this project but also to encourage me to continue writing.

And at that moment as I set out napkins and plates, I stopped. The inspiration to teach others how to create vision boards suddenly alerted me to a second glimpse of the actual bounty of God’s gifts toward that book’s creation that I’d not yet fully recognized. On this day, He opened my eyes, and in that light bulb moment, I stopped as He alerted me to His full blessings, and I began to grin as I envisioned Him loving me and cheering me on with reflections of the extras He had placed in my life to facilitate that one big goal. WOW!  There were far more provisions I’d not previously recognized with additional supports of inner strength to help me persevere under the many trials and pressures of reaching that goal. Now that’s inspiration! And I now saw Him with a new clarity and brilliance in the shadows of my journey with a newfound gratitude.

Upon the dawn of a new year as I prepared to help these sweet women to identify their individual new goals, I found a new humility and a surplus of gratitude in my personal rear-view mirror for the amazing people in my personal and work families alongside the events that God used to unfold my successes during this past year. This reflection gave me strength for my life’s vision as I now look forward through the windshield of new and even greater opportunities.

My invitation to those building anew after trauma and disappointment is to find gratitude through the trials of your journey, and your revelations will gift you the vision of God in your daily shadows cheering you on also, providing for your needs, and lifting you to greater heights than you could have previously imagined. Take heart that He’s always there in the perimeter of life’s highs and lows. Just envision His presence through people and events during your hardest trials and see how He orchestrated your safety and provision to this day. Then, you will trust Him in your future vision as well.

Verse of Reflection

Psalm 91:4 – He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.