Have you ever looked at the problems in our world and wondered whether anything you do really matters?
I think most of us have.
We watch the news, see the arguments, hear the promises, and wonder if anything is ever going to change. Sometimes the problems seem so big that our individual efforts seem insignificant.
And before long, we find ourselves saying something that ought to concern us:
"What difference can one person really make?"
That question doesn't just apply to politics. It applies to our homes, our churches, our communities, and even our walk with Christ.
Think about a bridge built with thousands of bolts holding it together. Imagine a maintenance worker noticing one loose bolt and deciding not to bother tightening it.
After all, it's just one bolt.
But what if every worker began thinking that way?
The problem wouldn't be that one bolt was insignificant. The problem would be that everybody had decided their responsibility didn't matter.
I believe that same attitude can creep into the Christian life.
When Discouragement Becomes an Excuse
Sometimes we convince ourselves that unless we can solve an entire problem, there's no reason to do anything about it.
But imagine applying that thinking to ministry.
Every Thursday morning, our Northside Baptist Church family prepares and distributes more than 130 breakfasts to people experiencing homelessness in Greensboro.
Now, we understand that serving those meals isn't going to end homelessness in our city.
But does that mean we should stop?
Absolutely not!
Those meals matter to the people receiving them. The prayers matter. The conversations matter. The encouragement matters.
And perhaps most importantly, those individuals matter to God.
We don't have to solve every problem to make a meaningful difference in someone's life.
That's something we need to remember when discouragement whispers that our efforts are pointless.
God Calls Us to Faithfulness
Galatians 6:9 encourages believers not to become weary in doing good.
Notice that God's Word doesn't tell us that every good thing we do will produce immediate results.
Sometimes we plant seeds that somebody else will water.
Sometimes we pray for people who don't seem interested in the Gospel.
Sometimes we minister faithfully for years without seeing everything God is accomplishing.
But our responsibility is faithfulness.
The results ultimately belong to God.
What About Our Responsibility as Citizens?
As another election approaches, some people have already decided that participating isn't worthwhile.
They say their voice doesn't matter or that nothing ever changes.
I understand the frustration.
And Scripture doesn't give us a direct command requiring participation in modern elections. Christians must exercise wisdom and conscience in these decisions.
But we should be careful about allowing discouragement to become our reason for withdrawing from every opportunity to serve our neighbors.
The decisions made in our communities affect real people.
They affect families, schools, neighborhoods, businesses, and people who may never have the opportunity to speak for themselves.
Responsible citizenship is one way we can express concern for the place God has allowed us to live.
One Person Still Matters
You may never preach to thousands.
You may never hold public office.
You may never see the complete results of your prayers, generosity, or service.
But that doesn't make your faithfulness insignificant.
Maybe today you need to encourage one struggling person.
Maybe you need to visit one lonely neighbor.
Maybe you need to teach one child about Jesus.
Maybe you need to become more informed about an issue affecting your community.
Whatever God has placed before you, don't dismiss it simply because it seems small.
The inability to change everything is never an excuse to do nothing.
And here's the wonderful part.
We serve a God who has always been able to accomplish extraordinary things through ordinary people.
So keep praying.
Keep serving.
Keep loving.
Keep doing good.
Your efforts may seem small to you, but the people touched by them are anything but insignificant.
And God sees every act of faithfulness.
Pastor Steve Goode
Northside Baptist Church — Greensboro, North Carolina
northsidegreensboro.com