Blueprints: Handling the Genesis Stage

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:1-3

Everything has a genesis—a beginning, a starting point. Every vision or plan has a genesis phase. It can be the most chaotic stage filled with confusion and an overwhelming sense of pressure. It’s the place where your vision exceeds the bounds of your resources. And yet, this is also the most important phase for your vision—particularly because this foundational stage has every implication on the future growth and success of your plan.

When we look closely at the account of creation in Genesis, we see that the earth God created was formless and dark—practically everything was indistinguishable. The genesis stage of visions is similar to the creation situation. You know that God has a work for you to do and lead. You can even see the silhouette of the vision that you are called to—but the details seem to be elusive. This can be frustrating and stressful. When my clients find themselves in this phase, there is one piece of advice that I give them: bring light into the situation.

Before God separated the waters, surfaced the land, made the plants and animals, and even created people, he said four important words: “Let there be light.” In essence, he was bringing forth clarity. How do you bring light into your genesis phase? You write the vision. This means taking the time to literally write out the who, what, when, where, why, and how. Too many visionaries rely on retaining the plans and blueprints in their mind. As a consultant, I emphasize this as a first step to my clients. Just like God didn’t organize the earth until he brought in light, you can’t properly organize your vision until you have written it out in full detail. While you may not know every odd and end of the vision, you should write everything that you do know.

Your vision may be in the genesis stage, but this is the perfect time to bring light and clarity into your plans. You can’t organize things in the dark—and as long as these plans reside exclusively in your mind, it remains in the shadows. Taking this foundational step suggests that you believe that your vision will stand the test of time. It’s about time that you allowed light into your vision.

Prayer:

God of mercy, be the light that guides our paths. As we seek to fulfill your visions for our lives, grace us with wisdom and clarity. Illuminate our understanding and open our eyes to the full measure of all the tools you have given us to work with. We will forever glorify your name. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Explore more at the Theology of Work Project online commentary:
Introduction to Genesis 1-11