EP.28: Crafting a God-Inspired Vision – 6 Weeks of Journaling Prompts Part 3
In this inspiring episode, we explore what it means to craft a God-inspired vision for your life. Unlike goals, which rely on our own effort, a vision invites God into the process—unlocking peace, anticipation, and possibilities far beyond what we could achieve on our own. As we reflect on the holiday season and prepare for 2025, I’ll share practical journaling prompts, stories of bold visions, and encouragement to dream big while doing less. If you’re longing for simplicity, purpose, and a deeper connection to God’s plan for your life, this episode is for you.
Ready to step into the new year with clarity and hope? Tune in now!
Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Be Still With Bobbi podcast. I’m glad you’re here. I’m wrapping up 2024 with this episode and will be back in early January with the last three parts of this 6-episode series. I created this series of journaling prompts to guide you through the end of this year and into the new year with more clarity and direction.
Today’s episode is all about creating a God-Inspired vision for your life and is probably my most favorite topic to talk about.
Sigh. We’re in the home stretch of 2024—the final 5 days of the year. It’s the holiday season, and for most women, it’s a time of juggling endless to-do lists, managing expectations, and trying to hold onto what little energy we have left.
If you’re anything like me or the women in my Be Still Collective calls, this season can feel like a whirlwind. We’re overcommitted, overwhelmed, and sometimes even a little disheartened. We barely have time to put up the Christmas tree or enjoy any of the traditions we used to hold dear.
And yet, here we are, with 2025 just around the corner. The thought of goal-setting or New Year’s resolutions might feel completely out of reach at this moment — like one more task we don’t have the capacity for. But what if, instead of focusing on goals, we turned our attention to vision?
In today’s episode, we’re talking about crafting a God-inspired vision for your life—a vision that doesn’t leave you feeling stressed or overwhelmed, but instead, fills you with peace, hope, and anticipation.
Let me stop there for a second. The word anticipation is one I use purposefully here. I want you to pause and consider this: How often do you look at your life or your calendar with true anticipation? Unless you’re about to go on vacation, my guess is not very often.
But as I’m slowing down in these days just after Christmas, I’m reminded of something so powerful. The real reason we celebrate Christmas is because God gave us the most incredible gift—the birth of His son, Jesus. And before Jesus was born, the people of that time were filled with anticipation. They didn’t know exactly what His arrival would look or feel like, but they knew it would be good.
That same anticipation feels so timely for today’s conversation. Because here we are, thousands of years later, and God is still good. He’s still giving us gifts—gifts we don’t deserve, didn’t earn, and couldn’t even imagine if we tried.
So, as you listen to this episode, I encourage you to hold onto that feeling of anticipation. Let it remind you that God is a loving Father who delights in blessing His children, and who invites us to dream really big dreams with Him.
And with that … I’m excited to talk to you about the difference between goals and vision, what it means to co-create with God, and how to dream about the year ahead in a way that invites God’s hand into every detail.
So, grab your journal and settle in … let’s get started.
First, I want to talk about Holiday Stress & Craving Simplicity:
Starting with where many of us are right now: in the midst of the holiday hustle. Even though Christmas is over, you may already be back to work, you may be staring at the aftermath of Christmas and wondering how and when you’re going to get it all cleaned up put away. Or if you’re like me, you may just be wanting to linger a little longer in the feeling of the Christmas season.
In our most recent Be Still Collective call prior to Christmas, I heard the same refrain over and over:
- “I haven’t even put up my Christmas tree yet!”
- “I feel like I’m failing my kids because I’m so busy.”
- “Our family traditions have disappeared – they’ve been replaced by screens and to-do lists.”
Does this resonate with you?
The truth is, we’ve created a holiday season that drains us instead of fills us. And by the time January 1st rolls around, we’re exhausted—too overwhelmed to even think about what we want for the year ahead.
Normally, this happens to me every year beginning in the month of November as we lead up to Thanksgiving. But this year, I had a different experience.
Over Thanksgiving, I took my two girls to a small town in Northern Minnesota to visit my aunt, uncle, and almost all of my extended family. My aunt lives on 5 beautiful acres, with a horse next door and a golden retriever who loves to play with my girls.
The moment we stepped through her front door, we were wrapped in hugs and welcomed with warmth and love. For a few days, we were surrounded by 30+ members of my extended family—laughing, talking, telling stories, and celebrating each other. We even had family members jump in the car and drive 3 ½ hours to join the fun after seeing the first day’s festivities posted on Facebook.
Phones were tucked away, except to snap a few photos. There were no screens, no schedules, no endless to-do lists … just genuine connection. It makes me smile and relax into my body just thinking about it.
My teenage girls spent hours outside—running through the snow, making up games, and tossing a ball with the dog. They threw rocks into the nearby river, visited the horse next door, and made memories that didn’t involve a single screen.
What I noticed during this trip was how full my heart felt. Overflowing, really. There’s something so powerful about stepping away from the noise of life and into a space where love, simplicity, and joy take center stage.
Every single person who walked through my aunt and uncle’s front door was greeted with open arms and pure joy. We cried happy tears when we arrived, and tears of sadness when it was all over—already looking ahead to the next time we’d be together.
But here’s the truth: we’re all getting older. And my girls will be “grown” in just a few short years. I want them to remember the simplicity and connection of these trips—the feeling of being part of something bigger, the joy of living fully in the moment.
The charm of small-town life is tempting. The unhurried pace, the connection to nature, the focus on what really matters—it feels so different from the way we usually live.
Since coming home, I’ve found myself longing for more of that feeling. Less stuff, less noise, less stress. More presence, more peace, more time with the people I love.
This trip reminded me of what’s possible when we slow down, listen to the longings of our hearts, and reconnect with what matters most. And it’s that feeling—the simplicity, the joy, the peace—that I want to carry with me into 2025.
And as I look toward the new year now, I’m realizing that my vision for the year ahead isn’t about doing more. It’s actually about doing less—but doing it with intention. It’s about leaving behind the busyness and stepping into a life that feels purposeful and peaceful.
Over the past decade or so, I’ve been working on being more intentional with how I use my time – experimenting with letting go of society’s expectations – realizing they’re mostly not serving me – and instead, I’ve been clearly letting my heart lead, embracing the idea that God’s got the rest. And you know what? It’s working.
But longing for simplicity doesn’t mean I’ve stopped dreaming big. And I want to make that clear distinction. Crafting visions with God means I can live a life of simplicity while still holding space for bold, God-sized dreams. Because with Him in charge of the steps, I don’t have to hustle or strive. I can focus on what matters most, while He works behind the scenes to open doors, clear paths, and bring my vision to life in ways I never could on my own.
This might sound counterintuitive—doing less while achieving more—but that’s the beauty of walking with God. His ability to bring our dreams to fruition isn’t dependent on how productive or capable we are. God isn’t a taskmaster or an ultimatum-giver. He simply wants us to bring Him the desires of our hearts and then let Him wow us with His handiwork.
So if you’re longing for a slower, more intentional life but think that means giving up your bigger goals or desires, think again. You can have both. And trust me, it’s freeing to operate this way. It takes the pressure off of us and creates space to breathe, dream, and live more fully.
Doesn’t that sound like a refreshing change from the hustle mentality that’s been taught to us?
If this resonates with you at all, let’s talk about how to create that vision together.
Vision vs. Goals:
First, let’s distinguish the difference between a vision and a goal.
Goals are concrete, measurable, and often self-contained.
- “Lose 10 pounds.”
- “Get a promotion.”
- “Save $5,000.”
There’s one main component to achieving a goal – the decision to do it. It’s on us to take the steps. And there’s more than sufficient information available to us on how to accomplish whatever the goal is. We can easily figure out how to lose ten pounds or get a promotion or save $5,000 on our own (or with the help of Google). And there’s nothing wrong with goals, but they’re limited by what you and you alone, can accomplish.
A vision, on the other hand, is expansive. It’s a dream that requires significant faith. It’s not just about what you can do—it’s about what God can do through you and for you. In ways you could never imagine.
A vision should feel a little out of reach and sometimes … a lot out of reach. Typically, I know I’ve hit on a God-sized vision if two feelings are present: The first, is that I feel absolutely crazy for thinking whatever the vision is could come true. And the second, is when it makes me say, “There’s no way this could happen without God’s help.”
The beauty of a God-inspired vision is that:
- It invites God to co-create with you.
- It asks for His provision and timing.
- It allows room for miracles you couldn’t plan for or imagine.
So, as you begin to think about 2025, I want to challenge you:
Take out the language about New Year’s Resolutions or Goals for 2025 and simply ask if there’s a big, adventurous, “no way” vision that’s been tugging at your heart. And if you’re not sure or an answer doesn’t immediately come to mind … keep listening. I’ve got some prompts coming up that will help get the ball rolling.
But keep in mind … Sometimes our visions are hidden so deep inside of us, that they’re not readily available by answering just one question. That’s why I want you to keep this thought process going in your journal. Sometimes my own visions come to me all at once and sometimes they need time to simmer – and I write about them, often. Tweaking little pieces of the vision here or there until it feels just right.
I also want you to keep in mind that sometimes, our visions are disguised as unattainable wishes – like buying a cabin in the mountains or moving to Spain for a year. They sound amazing, but there are too many realistic things in the way of making them happen.
Which is one other specific caution I want to throw out there – visions are often riddled with obstacles and roadblocks, so we don’t think of them as visions – we think of them as pipe dreams. And I’m here to tell you – those buried pipe dreams only need TWO words – what if – to come to life – because one of God’s specialties is clearing out the obstacles we see.
Let’s start with some basic information.
What does it mean to craft a God-Inspired Vision?
When we think about the future, most of us naturally default to goal-setting. We’ve been taught our whole lives that if we want something, we need to work for it—step by step, checking off our lists, until we finally reach the finish line.
But that’s not what I’m talking about. Crafting a vision is bigger than setting a goal. Visions are the kind of dreams that make your heart beat a little faster because they feel almost impossible.
I’ve told this story in more depth in a previous episode, but when I was in my twenties, I had one of those impossible dreams. I wanted to move back to my hometown in California, but I lived in Minnesota at the time. After visiting for a high school reunion, I just knew that’s where I was meant to be for the next season of my life. But on paper, it didn’t seem possible.
I was in debt. I had an apartment lease to finish. I needed money for the move. And I was a single girl supporting myself. So, like any goal-oriented person, I made a list of all the steps I’d need to take before I could make it happen. It was a very logical plan. But when I shared it with my mentor, Glenn, he gave me advice I’ve never forgotten.
He said, “Stop worrying about the list. Just take the first step. Trust God to handle the rest.”
It was totally counterintuitive to my logical list-making mind. How could I possibly move when none of the obstacles on my list had been resolved? But I trusted Glenn’s advice—and I trusted God.
The minute I walked out of Glenn’s office, I called my brother and told him, “I’m moving back home.” I didn’t know when or how, but I knew I was moving. And from that moment on, God started opening doors I didn’t even know existed. He cleared the obstacles in ways I never could have imagined.
That’s the difference between a goal and a vision.
A goal is a clear, step-by-step process to achieve something within your control. A vision, on the other hand, is about dreaming big and inviting God into the process. It’s about saying, “God, this is what’s on my heart. I trust You to guide my steps.”
If you can clearly map out every single step of your dream, it’s probably a goal. And as I already said, goals are important—but they’re also limited to what we can do on our own.
When I think about the dreams I’ve held in my heart over the years—buying my house, homeschooling my girls, starting this business—they’ve all started with a vision-not a goal. And every single time, God has taken my initial dream and made it even bigger, and even better, than I ever could have imagined.
The key to allowing visions to surface and simmer while God works in the background is your willingness to try it. The only thing between your vision being imagined and being realized is YOU. You have to first get on board with the idea that your vision could actually be a real possibility. I’ve seen this in coaching clients over and over again.
They desperately long to discover a vision for themselves and once they do, they immediately explain why it can’t possibly happen. And the vision vanishes.
That’s why it’s so important to practice inviting God into the Visionary Process
The way I craft visions in my life is through stillness and journaling. You’ll see a theme in all of these episodes – everything comes back to the stillness and journaling.
Because the quiet lets my mind breathe and think thoughts I don’t have access to when the doorbell is ringing and the dog is barking and math homework needs to be done and someone’s asking what’s for dinner. And the journal captures my thoughts so I don’t have to remember all the brilliant things I think in the stillness.
Here’s what my general process looks like:
I start by writing a rough draft of what I think I want. Then I close my eyes and imagine myself living out that vision. What does it feel like? Does it make my heart come alive? Do I feel a sense of awe and wonder? Can I picture a day in the life of me when this vision has come true?
If the answer is no, I keep revising the vision until it feels right. And when I say “right,” I mean that there’s a giddy, childlike excitement that comes with it. This is where the anticipation comes in. I get excited at the possibility and potential of this vision actually coming true.
This process occasionally happens all in one sitting. Because I’ve been operating this way for so long, sometimes it feels like my visions just hit me out of left field. But more often than not, this process happens over time – a span of weeks or months, or depending on the size and scope of the vision – sometimes even years.
And … something else to be aware of. The excitement of discovering a vision is typically followed by another feeling—the reality check. The part of me that says, “How in the world is this going to happen?”
Both feelings belong. Because if your vision doesn’t have a “no way” factor, it’s probably a goal.
What I’ve learned by practicing this way of being, is that there is greater joy in letting God take the lead
When you invite God into your vision, you’re not just dreaming—you’re co-creating. God knows your heart, your struggles, and your desires. And His imagination is so much bigger than ours.
Plus, we’re overstressed and overwhelmed by our schedules, remember?
This way of doing life gives the hardest part over to God. Our job is to simply hold the vision. To dream boldly and trust fully. God’s job is to move the mountains we can’t possibly move.
So, with that. Let’s talk through some Vision-Inspiring Questions
I want to help you uncover the dreams God has placed on your heart. As you answer these questions, remember that God’s imagination is bigger than ours could ever be. He knows the desires of your heart and wants to walk with you as you dream.
Here are the questions:
- If you could wake up tomorrow living your dream life, what would it look like? (If this question is too big or too hard to answer – just ask about this next year. If you could see yourself at the end of December 2025, what does your life look like?)
- What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do but felt it was too big, too unrealistic, or that the timing has never been right? (Buy a beach house? Travel to Europe? Quit your job and start a non-profit?) Give this unrealistic drema some room to breathe.
- If time, money, or resources weren’t an issue, what would you pursue? (This question in particular tends to awaken our realistic, logical selves more than some of the others so beware of that.)
- Where do you feel the deepest longing for change or growth in your life? (Time to be brutally honest with this questions.)
- What’s one area of your life where you’ve settled for less than you truly desire?
- What do you truly want in this season of life?
- If God told you He would take care of the “how,” what would you ask for?
- What desires or dreams have you been hesitant to bring to God? (This could be because you don’t think you’re worthy of dreaming such things or you don’t think God cares enough about this dream you have … )
- What brings you the most joy, and how can you incorporate more of that into your vision?
- When was the last time you felt a sense of awe and wonder? What inspired it? How can you incorporate that feeling into your visionary process?
- Who or what inspires you to dream bigger?
- Without thinking – if you could wave a magic wand and ask for one thing in 2025, what would it be?
- If you could describe your ideal year in one word, what would it be? Why?
- How can you invite God into the process of crafting your vision for 2025?
I want you to let these really sink in. Come back to them later when you have a journal and a pen. Or come back to them again and again throughout the year. There is no wrong way to go about this as long as you’re answering in earnest with your whole heart.
I do also want to say this: There is Resistance to Visionary Thinking
I mentioned this briefly already, but I want to really hone in on what happens to nearly every single person when they start this process: resistance.
I’ve worked with clients who are eager to uncover their dreams and create a vision for their lives, and have more clarity and direction. They want to step boldly into their future with God at the helm.
But here’s the thing: once they hit on something that feels big and bold, and wildly exciting, something strange happens. Their belief system kicks in.
It’s almost as if their wiring begins to malfunction.
I’ve heard clients say things like, “That’s ridiculous. It can’t be that.” Or, “I’m not ready for that yet and let me tell you all the reasons why the timing is all wrong.” Some even get angry: Saying things like, “You shouldn’t ask me to talk about this because it’ll never come true.”
Why does this happen? I can tell you. Because dreaming big—crafting a vision that requires God’s hand—is counterintuitive to the way we’ve been taught. It doesn’t make sense. And we are wired to make sense of everything.
Most of us were raised to believe that we should only pray “in case of emergency.” Or that our prayers should solely focus on others, never on ourselves. So much so that when we do start dreaming about the future and talking to God about it, we often feel this pang of guilt, as if asking God for something we desire is somehow selfish.
But here’s the truth: We often see ourselves in the light of the question, Who am I to ask for this? When the real question should be Who are you NOT to?
God placed those desires in your heart for a reason. And the reality is, you don’t need to earn His blessings. You don’t need to deserve them. Because God’s love and grace are given freely—not based on merit but on His limitless goodness.
And what if that really big dream or vision you have is what God has been waiting for you to step into in order for him to show you the life that was meant for you all along.
Personally speaking, my life before practicing this way of being was much smaller and full of fear and longing than the life I have today. There was a void. Something was missing. But God has opened doors for me that I never could have opened on my own simply because I was willing to create and dream impossible visions with him. And my life is a direct reflection of his provision and imagination.
So, what are some of the Limiting Beliefs That Surface?
When you do this exercise in earnest, you’ll likely encounter a limiting belief. Or two. Or five. They might sound like:
- “This is too big. It can never happen.”
- “That’s selfish. I shouldn’t even ask for this.”
- “God isn’t interested in helping me with something so far-fetched.”
- “The timing isn’t right. I have other things I need to accomplish first.”
And when these beliefs arise, you’ll face a choice:
Will you step out of your comfort zone and dare to trust God?
Or will you let logic win, keeping you safely rooted in the ordinary?
Here’s what I know for sure: If you choose to stay in your comfort zone, your life will remain perfectly ordinary. And while there’s nothing wrong with ordinary, it’s not where the miracles happen. And it’s not where most of us long to be.
The Cost of Staying in Control of your life is very real.
We fight so hard to maintain control over our lives. We cling to logic and practicality because they feel safe. But by doing so, we miss out on the incredible, unimaginable things God can do.
I’ve done it both ways. I’ve pursued goals where I mapped out every logical step and kept everything under my control. And I’ve surrendered my dreams to God, inviting Him to take the lead and trusting Him to fill in the gaps.
Let me tell you: the visions God brings to life are always bigger, wilder, and far more fulfilling than anything I could have achieved on my own.
So please, consider this your Gentle Nudge Toward the Ridiculous
Here’s the thing about visions: they’re meant to stretch you. They’re meant to feel a little crazy.
If this process makes you uncomfortable—or even mad—you’re probably doing it right.
Because stepping into the unknown, trusting God with something that feels far beyond your reach, is where the adventure begins. And yes, it’s scary. It’s wild. It might even seem ridiculous. But it’s also thrilling, joyful, and deeply rewarding.
So as you sit with your journal, I want to gently nudge you:
- Let yourself dream big.
- Let yourself ask for the thing that feels too good to be true.
- And when the resistance comes, don’t run from it. Sit with it. Because that’s where the magic happens.
Once you’ve done this exercise or begun this process the key will be to trust God’s timing & stay adaptable:
One of the most beautiful (and sometimes challenging) parts of crafting a God-inspired vision is trusting His timing. And if I’m being honest, this is the absolute hardest part for me.
We often want immediate results, but God works differently. He moves at the perfect pace, aligning circumstances and opportunities in ways we could never orchestrate.
That’s why staying adaptable is so important. Your vision isn’t set in stone—it’s a living, breathing partnership with God.
Here are a few more prompts to help you refine your vision as you walk through the year:
- What new insights or experiences have shaped my vision?
- How can I be more open to the unexpected ways God might fulfill this vision? Where might I be getting in the way?
- What does it look like to trust God’s timing, even when it feels like nothing’s happening?
God invites us to dream with Him—to share our desires, to ask Him for what we want, and to trust Him with the details.
What I’ve learned is that:
- God listens. He hears every prayer, every hope, and every fear.
- God provides. He orders our steps and makes a way, even when we can’t see how.
- God blesses. When we approach Him with open hands and open hearts, He pours out blessings in ways that are often surprising and awe-inspiring.
So, as you craft your vision for 2025, remember to keep your hands open. Talk to God about everything—the big dreams, the small details, the “no way” visions that feel impossible.
And don’t forget to leave room for Him to move the mountains.
Thank you so much for spending this time with me today, and for joining me on this journey of crafting God-inspired visions for the year ahead. As we close out 2024, I hope this episode has reminded you of the beauty of slowing down, dreaming boldly, and inviting God into every corner of your life.
We’ve covered a lot of ground today—reflecting on holiday stress, craving simplicity, and distinguishing between goals and visions. We’ve talked about how God wants to co-create with us, how His timing is always perfect, and how our limiting beliefs often stand in the way of the dreams He’s placed on our hearts.
Here’s what I want you to remember as we head into 2025:
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need to know every step. You just need to start.
Bring your vision to God. Let Him surprise you with His creativity and provision. Trust that His plans for you are bigger, better, and more fulfilling than anything you could accomplish on your own.
Take time to sit with the prompts we’ve explored today, whether it’s tonight with a cup of tea, or next week when the holiday hustle quiets down. Let this be a season of dreaming—not striving—and a season of hope—not pressure.
And if you’re feeling stuck, remember this: Resistance is part of the process. Let it nudge you to lean in, to trust more, and to dream even bigger.
As we wrap up 2024, I want to leave you with this thought: God’s plans for you are filled with peace, purpose, and possibility. He’s ready to walk with you into the new year, guiding your steps and bringing your vision to life.
If you’re craving support, encouragement, or a deeper sense of connection as you move into this next chapter, I’d love to invite you to join The Be Still Collective. Our doors will reopen in late January 2025, and it’s the perfect space to dream, reflect, and grow alongside other women who are on a similar journey. You can get on the wait list and be the first to hear when the doors are open by going to www.bestillwithbobbi.com/community
Thank you for being here, for sharing this space with me, and for your willingness to dream with God. May your holidays be filled with peace, joy, and moments of stillness that fill your heart.
I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year. I’ll see you in January.
Bye for now!
