The Keys to a Blessed Family: Discovering Your Family Mission

 

There was once an episode showing on National Geographic about a pride of lions walking through the middle of a game park. The way they walked showed that they were up to something. They were looking for something to eat and were determined to catch an animal.

Their first attempt was to bring down a zebra. Unfortunately, the zebra outran them, and they missed it. Their second target was an antelope. Again, the antelope outran them, and they missed it.

However, the lions never gave up. They continued walking in the same direction until they suddenly spotted a giant animal—a giraffe. It was towering and huge, and probably well-fed.

I understand that lions rarely attack giraffes because of their size and powerful kicks, which can break a lion's jaw. Nevertheless, these lions were determined to find something to eat because they were hungry.

They followed the giraffe from a distance, stalking it. When the giraffe found out it was being stalked, it increased its pace. The lions did the same. Eventually, they cornered the giraffe in a thicket, a very bushy area, and surrounded it.

It took time for them to attack because of the giraffe's size and powerful kick. However, the lions developed a strategy. Some distracted the giraffe while others jumped on it and began biting. They tackled it, brought it down, and eventually succeeded in killing it.

That day, the lions secured a great meal.

Those lions were on a mission, and nothing could deter them from pursuing their goal. They were daring, courageous, and determined. They meant business.

They were not walking aimlessly or simply taking a stroll through the game park. They had a sense of mission.

And today, we will look at having a family mission.

God Gives Families a Mission

Our God is a God of mission. That is who He is. God gives missions to individuals, organizations, nations, and families.

The mission God gave Adam and Eve

God gave the first family, Adam and Eve, a mission.

Genesis 1:27–28 says:

"So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" (NIV)

God gave Adam and Eve the mission of filling the earth with people and exercising dominion over it.

The mission God gave the nation of Israel

God also gave the nation of Israel a mission. He called them to conquer Canaan and occupy it as their possession.

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, other nations already inhabited it. Nevertheless, God had given them the mission of conquering and possessing Canaan, and it happened.

The mission God gave Abraham and his family

Another family that God gave a mission was Abraham's family.

In Genesis 18:17–19, God visited Abraham in the company of three men. Abraham welcomed them into his home and demonstrated hospitality. During that encounter, God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac.

This reminds us to be hospitable. We never know whom we might welcome into our homes.

God then spoke about His purpose for Abraham:

"Then the Lord said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him.'" — Genesis 18:17–19, NIV

Notice the assignment God gave Abraham. He was to direct his children and household to follow the way of the Lord by doing what was right and just.

God was not only interested in blessing Abraham; He also wanted Abraham to guide his family according to God's ways.

Here is something important to remember: God is able to fulfil His mission for your family, or even for you as an individual, through the promises He gives you.

God gives families missions, and He has a purpose for every family.

What Is a Family Mission?

Generally, a mission is what a person, organization, or nation exists to accomplish. It describes what they are all about.

Stephen Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, describes a family mission as a combined and unified expression from all family members of what their family is all about.

A family mission describes what you want to do and be as a family. It also identifies the principles you choose to govern your family life.

In other words, it answers three important questions:

• What do we want to do as a family?
• What do we want to become as a family?
• What principles will govern our family life?

Whatever family you belong to, your mission should reflect what you want your family to stand for.

Your family mission sets you apart from other families. It makes your family unique.

God wants your family to be original, not a copy of another family. That is why every family needs to discover its own mission.

God does not want your family to experience an average or mediocre family life. He wants your family to blossom, thrive, and be fruitful. He wants your marriage and family life to be productive.

Do not listen to the lies that tell you your family is finished because of where you have come from.

Perhaps you grew up in a dysfunctional family, one characterized by violence and quarrelling, or struggling with alcohol abuse. Your past does not have to determine your future.

This is a new day. You can have a blessed family.

One way to experience God's blessings in your family is by discovering and pursuing your family mission.

Why Is a Family Mission Important?

1. A Family Mission Clarifies Your Family's Destiny

What is destiny? It is your destination—where you want to go and the direction you are taking.

When your family has a mission, you know where you are going. You understand what you are pursuing and why you exist as a family.

You also understand why you make certain decisions and do certain things for the good of your family.

That is the power of having a family mission.

Even when preparing for marriage, it is important to think beyond romantic feelings. You may be in love with someone, experience butterflies when you think about them, and feel that you cannot sleep without saying hello through a text message. That is fine, but marriage requires more than romantic feelings.

When the time comes to get married, think about the mission you want to pursue together as a family.

Marriage is not simply about sexual intimacy. Although intimacy is an important part of marriage, it is not the sole purpose of the relationship.

Marriage is also not simply about having children. Many people can have children, but the more important question is: What kind of children do we want to raise?

Similarly, marriage is not simply about building a mansion so that everyone can admire your achievements and wealth. If building a house is part of your family goals, ask yourselves why you want to build it and what purpose it will serve.

A family mission takes ordinary goals and gives them a deeper meaning.

As a couple, you need to ask yourselves where you are going and what you want to accomplish together.

A family mission gives you direction. It helps you move beyond simply getting married, eating, drinking, and living together until death separates you.

Instead, you become a purpose-driven family—a family that understands why it exists and what it wants to accomplish.

This can be done by intentionally developing family missions.

2. A Family Mission Produces Synergy

The second reason to have a family mission is that it produces synergy.

What is synergy?

Synergy is the combined power of a group of people working together. It is the increased effectiveness that results when two or more people work together.

There is a familiar saying: "United we stand, divided we fall."

When people work together, the power they produce can be greater than what they could accomplish individually.

I can be effective on my own, but together with my husband, we can accomplish much more.

Some people fear marriage because they think it will ruin their lives. Marriage can bring difficulties when people are poorly matched, but a marriage built on shared faith and purpose can also create opportunities for growth, support, and achievement.

That is synergy.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 illustrates this principle:

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm, but how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (NLT)

The passage reminds us that we are stronger when we support one another.

When a family has a shared mission, its members become united around a common purpose. Their family bond is strengthened, and they become more committed to the future they are building together.

A family mission also helps every member contribute to the family's success.

Some family members are good at organizing. Others are good at leading, praying, or caring for people. Each person has different talents, personalities, and abilities.

When a family understands its mission, members learn to appreciate one another's contributions instead of comparing themselves with one another.

They begin to value each person's abilities and recognize that everyone has something meaningful to offer.

A shared mission also encourages families to pool their resources.

Instead of thinking only in terms of one person's money or another person's money, family members begin thinking about what they can accomplish together with their resources.

Without a shared mission, family members may become individualistic. A husband may focus only on his dreams, a wife on hers, and the children may grow up pursuing separate goals without understanding the family's shared direction.

This can create division.

However, when a family shares a mission, its members learn to support one another through life's challenges.

For example, when a husband loses his job, his wife does not simply accuse him of being lazy. Instead, they ask how they can work together to find a solution.

When children struggle at school, their parents do not simply label them failures or give up on them. They continue to support and guide them so that they can develop and succeed.

The family remains committed to helping each member grow because everyone contributes to the shared purpose.

A family mission helps transform individual dreams into a shared vision.

3. A Family Mission Generates Passion

The third reason to have a family mission is that it generates passion.

Passion is the emotional fire, enthusiasm, and zeal that motivate you to pursue something meaningful.

Families go through difficult seasons. There will be hardships, mountains, and valleys. Sometimes, circumstances will make it difficult to keep moving forward.

That is why a family needs a mission that inspires, motivates, and encourages its members to persevere.

Remember the lions in the opening illustration. They did not give up after failing to catch the zebra and antelope. They continued pursuing their goal until they found another opportunity.

Their determination was driven by their need to find food.

In the same way, a clear family mission gives you a reason to keep going when circumstances become difficult.

When you are passionate about your mission, you become willing to confront challenges rather than abandon your purpose at the first sign of difficulty.

Couples and those preparing for marriage need to understand this principle. When you have a family mission, you develop a shared purpose that can help sustain you through difficult circumstances.

Your mission becomes a source of motivation and a reminder of what you are working towards together.

4. A Family Mission Encourages Perseverance

A clear mission does not mean that a family will never face difficulties. Rather, it gives the family a reason to hold on when difficulties arise.

There's a story of a certain gentleman.

He was on a mission to attain a high school education as a young man, but everything seemed to be against him. He didn't have money, and when he was preparing to begin high school, war and insurgency broke in his region.

He almost gave up. However, he was determined to pursue his education.

One day, a former primary school classmate of his returned home for the holidays. He told him, "Calvin, I think you are on the list of people who have been admitted to Soroti Secondary School." Amidst uncertainty,  Calvin decided to act on what he was told.

The following day, Calvin walked 35 kilometers from his village to town where the secondary school was located.

He moved through rebel territory and encountered rebels along the way. They searched him and questioned him because they suspected he was carrying a pistol.

When Calvin eventually reached the school, the administration told him that they had forfeited his admission because he had arrived a term late. His admission had been given to someone else.

Nevertheless, Calvin refused to give up. He went from one office to another, trying to explain his situation and asking them to check their records.

He told the deputy headmaster that his  name should be in the files. He also explained that there was a war going on in his home village and asked them to consider the circumstances.

Eventually, the chairman of the admissions committee said, "Enough, young man. Take the admission letter and report to school tomorrow."

Calvin had finally secured my his admission into the school.

He walked the 35 kilometers back to his village, then returned to school the following day and pursued his education despite the obstacles.

What kept him going? He had a mission, determined to obtain a high school education. 

The same principle applies to families.

When a family has a mission, its members have a shared reason to persevere.

A family mission helps you remain focused, work together, and continue pursuing your goals even when the journey becomes difficult.

How Can Your Family Discover Its Mission?

Now that we understand the importance of a family mission, how do we discover ours?

There are three important steps.

1. Ask God to Reveal His Mission for Your Family

The first step is to ask God to reveal His mission for your family.

Get home and set aside time to pray together as a family. Ask God, "What specific assignment do You have for our family?"

We do not simply invent our mission; we seek to discover it. God has a purpose for every family, and we need to seek His guidance to understand that purpose.

As you pray and seek Him, allow your family mission to unfold through that process.

Remember Abraham and his family. God gave them a purpose and showed them how their household would contribute to His plans.

In the same way, ask and wait on God's direction as you consider what He wants your family to accomplish.

2. Discuss Your Family's Interests, Goals, Passions, and Values

The second step is to have meaningful conversations about your family.

Sit down together and discuss your interests, goals, passions, dreams, and values.

If you are married, involve your spouse. If you have children, include them in age-appropriate discussions.

Ask one another questions such as:

• What are our passions and interests as a family?
• What goals do we want to achieve together?
• What values should guide our family?
• What kind of culture do we want to establish in our home?
• What kind of children do we want to raise?
• What financial goals do we want to pursue?
• How do we want to serve God and contribute to our community?

Give everyone an opportunity to contribute. The purpose is to discover the things that matter to your family and identify the goals you want to pursue together.

These conversations will help you understand what your family stands for and the kind of future you want to build.

3. Write Down Your Goals and Create a Family Mission Statement

The final step is to write down your goals, passions, interests, dreams, and values.

After discussing them, work together to create a family mission statement.

Writing down your mission is important because it gives you something to refer to regularly. It becomes a reminder of what your family is pursuing and the principles that should guide your decisions.

You can revisit it whenever you face difficult decisions, experience challenges, or need to remind yourselves of your shared purpose.

Your family mission statement should reflect your family's identity, values, and God-given purpose.

It does not have to be complicated. What matters is that it expresses what your family wants to do and become, as well as the principles you have chosen to guide your family life.

Your Family Needs a Mission

God wants you to have a blessed family. He wants your family to thrive, flourish, and fulfil its purpose.

A family mission helps clarify your family's destiny, produces synergy among family members, generates passion, and encourages perseverance through difficult seasons.

It gives your family direction and helps each member understand how they can contribute to the family's shared goals.

Do not allow your background or past family experiences to convince you that a blessed family is impossible. Your past does not have to determine your future.

Begin by seeking God, discussing your family's dreams and values, and writing down a mission statement that reflects your shared purpose.

Just as the lions in the opening illustration were not walking aimlessly, your family should not move through life without direction.

God has a purpose for your family. Discover that purpose, unite around it, and pursue it together.