See It Before You See It: How God Turns Dreams Into Destiny

Lessons from Leadership Lifter Talk with Chris Robinson

Every leader carries a dream on the inside. God plants it there long before anyone on the outside can see it. But the journey from dream to destiny always begins the same way by cultivating a vision, committing to growth, and trusting God with the process of seed, time, and harvest.

That’s why my conversation with Chris Robinson was such a gift. Chris serves as the Executive Vice President of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, equipping more than 60,000 speakers, coaches, and trainers around the world. But before he ever trained global leaders, before he worked alongside John Maxwell, before he ever stood on a stage, he was simply a young man sitting in the basement of Church on the Rock with a hunger to grow.

Years ago, Chris took one of our personal development classes, the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. He invested $25 he really didn’t have. But he didn’t just read those principles. He applied them. And God honored that pursuit. He received a promotion at work, and more importantly, something awakened in him. He discovered the joy of adding value to people.

That single decision began a journey that would change the direction of his life.

But like every leader, Chris faced seasons where the dream felt distant. In one of the lowest moments of his life, he was sitting in his driveway with a failed business, three children to provide for, and only $12 to his name. He had a choice: shrink back or lean forward. And on that day, he wrote a letter to himself describing who he was going to become. Not who he was at the moment, but who he saw in his spirit.

That is the power of vision.

The Bible teaches us to write the vision and make it plain. When your dream becomes clear enough to write down, it becomes strong enough to pursue. But clarity alone isn’t enough. Chris shared how your dream must be tied to emotion. If you can’t find your “why,” you’ll never find the will to stay with it when conditions get tough.

We live in a world that wants microwave results, but leadership doesn’t work that way. Growth takes time. Development takes consistency. God gives the seed. He assigns the harvest. But He leaves the middle—the time—to our stewardship. That season refines us, humbles us, and prepares us for the responsibility of the dream.

One of the greatest insights Chris shared is the importance of being in the right room with the right people. You don’t just need good people around you. You need people who share your direction. People who value growth. People who pull you upward. When you get in the right room, something shifts on the inside. Your vision expands. Your courage strengthens. And you begin to see possibilities you couldn’t see before.

Today, Chris is living the very vision he wrote years ago. He travels the world adding value to leaders, teaching growth principles, and helping others move from success to significance. His new book, From Drift to Drive, is a powerful roadmap for any leader who wants to break out of complacency.

But the lesson for all of us is simple:

You must see it before you see it.
You must write it before you walk it.
You must pursue it before you possess it.

Whatever God has placed in your heart, don’t let go of it. Keep planting. Keep watering. Keep developing. The seed will grow. The harvest will come. God is faithful to finish what He starts in you.

And remember, God is for you.

Listen to the full conversation with Bishop Dale Bronner on the Leadership Lifter Podcast on YouTube or on davidblunt.org