Anchored on God’s Calling

Nehemiah's vision did not appear out of thin air.

Nehemiah’s vision did not appear out of thin air. It was anchored on months of seeking what God would have him do to help the Israelites. He spent weeks in prayer. He routinely discerned God’s will at the outset and real-time, in the moment, along the way. God was not at the fringe of Nehemiah’s vision. Nehemiah did not have a set it and forget it vision. Instead, Nehemiah attuned himself to God to lead in ways that caused the vision to become reality.

Humility – A Prerequisite of Vision

Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem after seeing many things fall into place. King Artaxerxes granted him unexpected permission to go, and provided provision, protection, and safe passage. Upon arriving, it would have been logical (and easier) for Nehemiah to go straight to vision casting, immediately declaring the vision.

That is not what he did. Instead, he exhibited tremendous humility and restraint. He assessed the situation by discreetly touring the wall. This time of assessment helped to ensure the vision would align to the reality facing the people in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was able to overcome the urge to jump to vision casting by taking time to truly understand what the people were facing. This time of assessment did not make his vision smaller or less impactful. It allowed him to connect the vision to reality and set it up to succeed.

Rested and Renewed

Nehemiah had habits that allowed him to be his best self throughout his leadership journey. Too many leaders have removed margin. They run at an incredibly fast pace and do not allow for healthy patterns of rest and renewal. These bad habits sap their ability to create vision. Such habits can also make them susceptible to pushing their vision through without ensuring it will succeed in their organization’s reality.

Nehemiah shows we must care for ourselves first. We must take intentional time disconnected from work. To see any vision reach its transformational potential we must constantly seek God. If we are intentional with rest and renewal, we will have a much greater chance to see a vision become reality and to have confidence it is truly from God.

Nehemiah’s Vision Formula

Grounded on this sound leadership foundation, Nehemiah used a simple and compelling formula to cast God’s vision in Nehemiah 2:17. Nehemiah begins with unflinching honesty about their reality; "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire."

He then turns to where they are heading; “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.”

He continues by communicating why accomplishing the vision matters, the motivational force behind the vision, “and we will no longer be in disgrace.”

Nehemiah’s vision formula captures where we are today, where we are going, and why moving in that direction matters.

It is easy to miss, but Nehemiah’s vision formula does not stop there. It continues in Nehemiah 2:18, “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.” The fourth aspect of his vision formula communicates an often-neglected element. He shared why the vision was possible, why they could achieve it amidst tremendous adversity.

Vision Casting Today

As you lead today and dream about possibilities for the future, your vision can become reality and transform your organization when you focus on seeking God’s calling. You can realize your vision if you stay attuned to God throughout, humbly aligning your vision with reality, and bringing your best self every day.

Once you have that foundation, consider communicating your vision with Nehemiah’s four-part vision formula that focuses on why your vision matters and why your vision is attainable.

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Chris Jorgensen helps Christian organizations maximize mission impact by creating and sustaining strategic focus through organization effectiveness assessments, strategic planning, and organization development services. He is also the author of The Nehemiah Blueprint (2024), which explores essential leadership attributes to build lasting impact. To learn more, please visit www.convergentstrategy.com or email Chris at chris@convergentstrategy.com.

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