What can I do?

The image above is based on one of my favourite stories, one that I have used in Church, in School Assemblies, and in one-to-one chats. I make no apology for telling it again as I have a strong feeling that it might just speak to someone’s life today.

After a storm, thousands of Starfish were left stranded on a beach – so many of them you could hardly see the sand. A small boy was crouching down amongst them, picking them up and throwing them into the sea, one by one. An adult saw what the boy was doing, sneered and mocked him, saying, “Why are you bothering? There’s so many here, you can’t possibly make a difference, you foolish child.” The boy looked up at the adult, then down at another Starfish. Very deliberately he picked it up, and threw it back into the sea before turning to the adult and saying, “I made a difference to that one” before carrying on down the beach.

There is so much trouble in our world at the moment – politically, economically, health-wise to name just three big things – that it seems overwhelming, and that there really is nothing we can do to make a difference. Or maybe in your life right now the challenges and difficulties you face just seem too big. You can’t deal with them all and you’re struggling to see how you can make a difference.

Don’t try to do it all at once. Take one piece, one situation, one problem, one day, at a time. Make a difference where you can. Remember God has placed you where you are for a reason, and for something that He believes you can do. You probably won’t change the world, but you can and will change the world where you are. It’s where God wants you to be, and it’s where He wants you to shine for Him by working with Him. What you are doing does make a difference, so be encouraged and don’t give up.

Two Scriptures come to mind – 1 Thessalonians 5v24, “he who calls you is faithful, and he will do it,” and Philippians 4 verse 13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Bring your situation to Him. Start to see it from His perspective. Remember that with Him we can all make the world of difference when we flourish where we are planted.

God bless, stay well

Martin