You Make A Difference- Even When It Doesn't Feel Like It - Live Loved

The things we say or do may feel unnoticed, but it doesn’t go without making an impact. Keep being a light even when it feels underappreciated. You are noticed. You are appreciated. You are right where you are supposed to be.

The ringing sound of the school bell echoed through the empty halls that were quickly filling with a wave of students. There was a frenzy of rushed talking and rapid speed walking as each student attempts to take advantage of every second in the four-minute passing period. The bell that rang meant it was time for lunch.

I was in 7^th grade that year. Still attempting to figure out the weird in-between stage of not being a kid but also not being a teenager. I was learning how to hold strong to my values while figuring out why I believed the things I did- I guess that’s true for most middle schoolers. It was (at the time) an unfortunate year because I did not have the same lunch period as the rest of my friends- I had first lunch while most of them had second lunch.

There was a girl in the grade above me who I slightly knew. So, I sat with her and the rest of her older 8^th grade friends, because who else was I supposed to sit with? It was intimidating to be sitting with the girls who were old enough to wear liquid eyeliner and already had perfectly straight teeth- I still had to pop out my Invisalign to eat every day.

I placed my lunchbox on the table and bowed my head to pray over the half PB & J sandwich in front of me. I expected no one to notice the tiny redhead squished on the edge of a seat.

I continued to pray over my food like this for a few more days; and the questions slowly started being asked, mainly in a sarcastic tone at first. “What are you doing,” and “Why are you doing that?” were frequently asked at the table. I gave simple answers because (again) it was a little intimidating. As the days dragged on, the questions got deeper. The questions soon turned into “Why do you believe in prayer?” and “What does it mean to you?”

One day, I walked onto the lunch patio to see people surrounding one of the girls who usually sat at my table as she was sobbing. Though I still hardly knew her, I asked if she was okay. Her response was “No. Can you pray for me?” I said, “Sure,” hoping I would remember to do as she asked when I got home later that day. The girl continued to stare at me and said, “No, like, right now. Can you pray for me right now?”

Now it was my turn to stare.

The girl who didn’t seem to care about what I had been doing every day, I found out, was actually paying attention to what I was doing and how I was responding.

And in that moment a whole table of girls grabbed hands and prayed right there on the Tomlin Middle School patio with a 7^th grader who didn’t know but one of them.

Sometimes what we’re called to do isn’t comfortable. Sometimes what we’re called to do isn’t easy. But what we’re called to do IS going to be used by God for His purposes EVERY time. And He gets all the glory.

I think about the book of Jeremiah, which I’ve been studying for over a month. Jeremiah was a prophet who was used by God to speak truth over the people and share messages from God Himself. As cool as this sounds, Jeremiah isn’t called “the weeping prophet” for nothing.

Jeremiah was beaten, mocked and even accused of treason for sharing the message God put on his heart. He had to share messages that were not widely accepted, not easily welcomed and not lovingly heard. He had to go against the idolatry and the things that were popular and accepted at the time to do things that were quite contrary.

It’s during the moments he was joked about or laughed at that he probably didn’t feel like he was making an impact on others. I’m sure going against what everyone else was doing and being left out didn’t make Jeremiah feel like he was reaching people.

But over 2,600 later and one of the most widely recognized pieces of writing comes from a verse in the Bible in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’”

Jeremiah fulfilled his purpose. Jeremiah was faithful in completing the purpose God had for him. He trusted God to carry him through and use him in ways bigger than what he could understand.

God knows the plans He has for you.

We have to keep taking steps of obedience even when we can’t see the step in front of us.

You are made with purpose FOR a purpose. God created you with a specific mission and for a specific reason. I know you’re tired. I know you’re hurting. I know you’re exhausted and wanting to give up because it feels like no one is listening or appreciating the good that you do and the energy that you bring. But trust me, someone does.

And if it impacts one person’s life then it’s all worth it.

Our acts of obedience can’t be grounded on the foundation of what we’re comfortable with or what we believe to be the best plan. Rather, obedience is grounded on trusting HIS faithfulness to complete His purposes through us. We have to be willing to commit everything we say and do to the Lord.

There are going to be days filled with insecurity and second-guessing whether or not you are doing the right thing. There are going to be moments of doubt when you feel like the work you’re doing, the prayer you’re praying and the time you’re committing isn’t making a difference.

We often can’t see the impact we have on someone else, but I promise the impact is there.

I don’t know what happened to the girl I prayed over on the patio in 7^th grade. But I do know that at some point, she broke through a hard shell of judgment to a soft heart. I do know God works all things for His good even when I can’t see it. So, I’m going to ask this question:

What can you do to impact the other people around you?