What is the Vision for Your Life?
Vision for our lives can seem so aloof. In contrast, human sufferings are close to the heart. It’s easier to answer, “What are the felt needs and pain in and around your life?” It’s harder to answer, “What is the vision for your life?” But all of us experience pain and suffering. For many of us, it is human plight that births vision. It is human suffering that seeds our life’s calling. It’s true of my life. It’s true of your life. Let me explain.
I think of Nehemiah who was just routinely serving as a cup bearer to the King when he heard that the people in Jerusalem were in great disgrace, the walls destroyed, and the gates burned down. Although Nehemiah had never been to Jerusalem, “when I heard these things, I sat down and wept. (Nehemiah 1:4)” He felt the pain. But instead of it being like a news report that upset us and then it was forgotten after dinner, Nehemiah’s news became a persistent pain that bonded in Nehemiah’s heart: “for some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. (1:4)” The days turned into months, as he repented, wept, and prayed (1:4-11). The bonding pain grew into a burden that Nehemiah could not shake off. Then after four months of praying, he believed that God was asking him to personally take the initial action to rebuild the wall (2:4-5). When he did, Nehemiah’s initial assignment to rebuild the wall in 52 days turned into 12 years of governing Jerusalem, restoring the reading of the Word, and administering justice for the poor. Nehemiah’s pain birthed his calling by:*
HEARING & SEEING the need
FEELING the need
BONDING with the need
BURDEN for the need
BELIEVE you can meet the need
INITIAL ACTION to meet the need
For me, after leading our All Nations work in the U.S. for almost ten years, I began my doctoral studies thinking that perhaps afterwards, I would go make a lot of money and pursue a brilliant career. But then our founder Floyd McClung, during a gathering in the Middle East in the fall of 2014, asked me to consider leading All Nations as the international director after him. I put him off for several months citing my busy study and travel schedule. Then I attended a Finishing the Task conference focused on the global need of unreached peoples for Jesus as the Hope of the nations, when the Lord said so clearly, “Mary, the unengaged unreached peoples of the world are worth you giving your life for.” That need for the Gospel became my calling.
Some of you know that my big pain point was that I grew up in many countries on four continents. For years I would complain, “Lord, that was so hard growing up like that—every few years not only switching friends, homes, schools, and cities, but also totally changing cultures, countries, and continents.” But one day, he said, “I’ve raised you in the nations for the nations. I’ve planted you as a stake in the nations.” With those words, he turned my pain into my calling.
I have friends who are called to anti-trafficking, saving the unborn, counseling the hurting, and advocating for the voiceless because they’ve heard, felt, and experienced the pain of human suffering in their lives. The Lord plants each of us in different sectors, neighborhoods, and communities to see and feel the plight of his children. And like Nehemiah, out of that burden that would not lift, a vision is born. A calling is birthed.
What is the human need that God has called you to meet? What is the vision Jesus has given you? I would love to hear and celebrate his leading in your life!
Blessings,
Mary Ho
*The six steps from Nehemiah are developed by the International Leadership Institute (ILI).
Dr. Mary Ho, DSL
All Nations International, Inc. | International Executive Leader
