MY impact?

A lot of the rhetoric these days around activism and helping people focuses on this idea that every person can "make a difference." In some ways this language is helpful (it reminds people that God can use even the smallest action to do amazing things, for instance), but in other ways it is incredibly destructive. It puts all of the pressure on US--it is the person who is making the difference, not the God who is working through her/him. It's an incredible amount of pressure, to feel that each person must go out and almost force change to happen, or that each person must make change despite their pitiful contribution or unresolved sin or finite amount of time.

Yes, the actions of each person are so important--God cannot act if we do not choose to act! But God's actions are so much more vital. God is the one who is changing hearts, fighting the spiritual battles, giving us strength when we have none, opening doors, making possible the impossible, pointing out problems that no one sees...

God is the one who will create change. So when you feel that you cannot possibly make a difference, that you don't have enough money or energy or time or anything else, just remember that God is the one who does all the real work. You will not fail or succeed based on your own strength or intelligence or passion.

The Power of Prayer

Today once I was finished with classes, I suddenly felt very depressed and tired. Walking back home, everything seemed gloomy. "Pray," God said to me. So when I got here, the first thing I did was pray for 55 endangered species. And I do feel better now. Still a bit tired and sad, but so much more able to face the rest of my day now.

Exhaustion

My life has been crazy busy lately, and I'm feeling exhausted. That exhaustion is also affecting my prayer life. Lately I've been more reluctant to spend time praying, and feeling like it's a waste of time. I know that's not true, but the feeling is still there. I pray that God will give me the strength to keep going, even when I feel like I can't.

"Pray hard, work hard, and leave the rest to God." ~Florence Griffith Joyner