“’We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. ‘Bring them to me,’ he said.”(Matt. 14:17-18 NIV)
I’m often tempted to think I have to do something big for God to prove my worth. I look around and see many other people living fully in their callings of sharing their walk with God to large audiences. It can lull me into the belief that living large is the only way to be fruitful, despite the fact that God didn’t give me the personality to live wide open like that, sharing my whole life loud and proud. The idea of letting everything hang out for strangers to see terrifies me. I’m not equipped for that much spotlight. But because that’s the most obvious example, I begin to think it’s the only right way.
Deep down, I know there are many others like me, people whose influence is much smaller, mainly in the tens of people, possibly hundreds on a good day. The enemy wants me to think that my small platform is meaningless, and that I shouldn’t even bother because the results of my efforts are probably miniscule. His tactic is to convince me to compare myself to the mega influencers. He conveniently leaves out facts such as the number of years these people have worked to reach their current level of influence or that I don’t actually want to be as well-known as them. My goals do not include becoming a household name, but the enemy tries to tell me that being popular is the only way to influence others.
The Scripture above reminds me that I am not responsible for the results of my efforts. My part is to bring what I have to Jesus. He has a purpose for the tasks he assigns me. Jesus wants me to surrender what he has given me back to him, in order that he might display his power and possibly perform a miracle for all who are present.
How am I to truly know whether my words are meaningless or meaningful? By sharing my story, I provide the opportunity for someone else to see their own life reflected back to them, which can lead to them feeling seen, known, and less alone. I can’t count the number of times I’ve read or heard someone else’s story and found solidarity in shared experiences. If one person is impacted by my words, then I should consider it a success.
Read the rest over at The Glorious Table.
