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October 28, 2020

Who’s Making the Impact?

October 28, 2020 by CARISSA JOY STRUM TRUST Comparison Expectations God’s guidance & direction Reliance Purpose Seeing & not seeing fruit Grace Hearing God & Understanding His Will
Who’s Making the Impact?
  • by CARISSA JOY STRUM
  • Comment
"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.'"
Mark 12:41-44

Have you ever felt invisible? I remember once, on a short service trip with my school, I felt a little unseen. Everyone else seemed to be contributing to the house we were building, but I wasn’t strong enough to hammer all the nails or knowledgeable enough to know how to lay out a floor plan. Besides, we could barely communicate with the family we were building for. Were we even making an impact? 


Have you ever seen others who feel invisible? On another service trip, I remember looking at all the sweet moms taking care of their little kiddos and wondering if they felt they were making an impact even though they didn’t get to help with the actual work of building. 


While God has given us all special spiritual gifts and skills (1 Cor. 12), we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking it’s up to us to use those gifts and skills to make an impact for His glory and Kingdom. We feel that not only can we decide how and when to use our own gifts, but that we also can determine if others are using their gifts well or not. In these moments, let’s choose to humbly trust that God is in control and is the One who gets to define what’s important and impactful. God is the One who is working behind the scenes 24/7, molding and shaping circumstances and situations to be exactly what He wants them to be. 


I wonder how that woman felt as she dropped her single coin into the offering. Did it make an awfully hollow “clink” as it dropped in the box? I doubt she felt impactful. However, her small offering was given in a big step of faith. She surrendered all she had to live on to God, revealing a trust in God that was deeper than a need for physical provisions. Not only did this sacrifice bring joy to God’s heart, but it also was used by God Himself to teach His disciples about God’s Kingdom. What an impact! 


So today, let’s not worry about trying to be impactful, but instead trust that God will make an impact however He wants through us, as long as we are open to Him. Let’s choose not to judge others and their levels of impact, and instead look to see what God might be showing us through the people He has placed around us. And let’s thank God that He is in control and He is working!

Closing Prayer
Abba, thank You that You are in control. Thank You for being sovereign over all aspects of our lives, even when we don’t see what’s happening. We surrender to You. Please impact us and make an impact through us however You see fit. Please open our eyes to see more of You in the world and in the people You have placed around us. Thank You for impacting us and for using us in Your divine and incredible plan. We love You so much, Lord. Thank You so much for loving us first. In Jesus’ precious and holy and beautiful Name, we pray. Amen.
Resources
Song: Good and Gracious King by CityAlight Sometimes, we can better see what God is doing and the impact He is making when we better know and focus on Him. One way to know God’s heart better is to put everything down, close our eyes, and listen to a worship song. This particular song has helped me listen to God and remember His love. Sometimes, the simple little things can be used by God as wonderful resources.
Question for Reflection

What’s an area in your life that you feel as if you aren’t making an impact? How do you think God might want to work through you in that situation to showcase His glory and Kingdom and might?

Comments
Carissa Joy Strum
October 28, 2020

As a leader (Resident Advisor) on my college campus, I thought I would be helping people often. However, the girls I’m in charge of do not often come to me with their struggles. They seem to either go to other Resident Advisors or deal with their struggles on their own. While it has been hard for me to feel I’m making a difference, one of my girls recently encouraged me that they felt loved through me. Even though I don’t see it often, God is working through me and using me to show His love, even in small ways. What a blessing and honor and amazing thing to be a vessel of the King!