Student Leadership 101: Vision Sample

Sharing Your Vision

Nehemiah understood there’s a time and place to share your vision. 

In Nehemiah 2:12, Nehemiah wrote that he had not told anyone what God had placed on his heart. No announcements, no BTS reels or coming-soon posts, no group text, nothing. Other than King Artaxerxes, it is noted that nobody — not even the priests or officials of Jerusalem — knew why Nehemiah was there. When a vision is in seed form, it shouldn’t be shared with everyone. 

 Instead of laying out the master plan as soon as he arrived, Nehemiah kept quiet and studied the city and its broken walls while everyone was sleeping. He took steps to prepare himself before jumping right in. 

It wasn’t that Nehemiah was against bringing others into his vision — he just understood that big visions require rigorous preparation and the right people. When Nehemiah finished assessing the damage, then he revealed his plan to rebuild the walls and the city to the Israelites. Not only did he reveal the vision to rebuild, but he invited his fellow Israelites to be a part of it. 

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began the good work.”

Nehemiah brought others into his vision when the time was right. When we bring too many people into our vision when it’s still in infancy, we risk it never coming to maturity. When we share our vision too soon, we risk people trying to talk us out of it — or being discouraged by people who cause us to overthink how much work the vision will be. 

Are you trying to rush your vision? The same way Nehemiah prepared while others slept, what are some ways you can prepare yourself now? Pray and ask God to show you who in your life can help carry the vision He’s given you.