What Will You Give Me This Year?

A  few years ago when I attempted to quit a volunteer group that I no longer felt passionate about, a friend told me that my lack of passion was really a lack of vision. He challenged me to rewrite a vision for the group before quitting. And he was right. Once I gained a new vision or new perspective on that group, my passion was reignited.

At the end of last year, I realized that the same was true for this magazine. I realized that I needed a new vision for Wit + Grace that was bigger than anything I could accomplish in my own strength. So I began the year with a commitment to lean into God’s presence by reading His word, starting with Genesis, and listening for his voice to help discern his vision for 2020 and beyond. And today,   as I was reading Genesis 15 or what I am now calling the “vision chapter,” this message popped out at me: “the vision will lead you to unexpected, sometimes dark places but I am your shield and great reward.”

Here’s the encounter that Abram, as he was known then, had with God where the vision unfolded in an unexpected way.

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.’”

How comforting … right? God just told Abraham that he was going to protect him and reward him. Who wouldn’t love that?

But you see, Abraham was already dealing with disappointment and discouragement and you could even say that his passion for the future and God’s plan was almost gone. He was an old man at this point and needed a new vision for his life to replace the one he thought would have happened by now.

In verse 2, “Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Maybe you’re like Abram and you’ve asked yourself the same question this year, last year, and many years prior. “O Lord God, What will you give me since I am … [childless, single, unhappy in my marriage, grieving, jobless, homeless, visionless, disappointed, frustrated, discouraged, lacking, hopeless] and I’ll have to settle for less than I imagined?  What will you give you to compensate for my pain, suffering, or disappointment?”

Here’s what God says to Abram:

He tells him that Eliezer will not be his heir but his heir will be someone who will come from his own body. He then takes him outside and gives him the whole vision for his life – the good, bad, and the ugly.

God shows him the heavens and the stars, which are too numerous to count. He reminds him that he is living in the promised land. But then God tells Abraham something that the probably didn’t want to hear because he was already frustrated that He didn’t have an heir. God tells him that not only will he have many heirs or offspring but also that they will suffer and be oppressed for FOUR HUNDRED YEARS in a foreign land.

It’s probably a good thing that Abraham was in a deep sleep at this point because he should be outraged. I know I would be. When I think about the vision and what I want God to give me this year, it doesn’t include pain, suffering, and oppression, and I certainly wouldn’t wish that on the kids or grandkids that I don’t have yet, but pray to have one day.

Maybe you’re like me, someone whose vision only includes the great and beautiful things you want to accomplish. You say, “Lord, I want a promotion at work or quit my job and start my own business.” You may even write down action steps for executing the vision that you want to see in your life. But few of us will plan for the pitfalls, disappointments, or missteps that are sure to happen. I mean, if you knew what was to come would you still ask for it?

Let’s pause for a minute because in the middle of the question that Abram asks – what will you give me? – and the answers that the Lord God provides, God tells Abram to do something before he falls into a deep sleep. God asks him to bring a heifer, a female goat, a ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon as an offering. God was creating an unconditional covenant with Abram. He told Abram that his descendants would be given the land which He saw before his very eyes. In fact, the vision was even greater and more vast than his eyes could see.  Even though his descendants would face slavery and oppression and would wander through the wilderness for 40 years, God would be faithful to offer them the same promise that He offered to Abram - “I will be your shield and great reward.”

This year, as I write a new vision for Wit + Grace and as you write a new vision for your life, God offers us that same promise WHEN, not IF trouble, heartache or grief comes to our doorstep. He reminds us in his word to be bold in asking Him for greater than what you can see – a vision that lasts beyond you and can carry on for generations to come, and know that He has already promised to be your shield and great reward.