A World in Need
You Can Make Change
You want to have some sort of meaningful purpose in life, something that makes you feel like everything you’ve been through was worth it. You hope that your pain, setbacks, struggles, and uncertainties in life will amount to something worthwhile. There must be a reason for all you’ve experienced.
Our world is a fallen place. It is filled with the evil desires of people and opportunities for them to get further ahead, while we are set back and trampled upon.
It’s easy to see a world that looks hopeless. Why even try when nothing ever seems to matter? Nothing ever seems to change. We are on a perpetual downward spiral that will lead nowhere. In the end, God will sort it all out. What business do you have in attempting to make a difference? The task is too big, the risks are too high, and the outcome is too uncertain. Why give up everything you know that is comfortable for the slight possibility of change in your life or someone else’s?
Because change is possible.
It is incredible what one brave action can do. One burden realized can spark someone to make a monumental change to a situation.
We see this to be true repeatedly throughout human history. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa are just a few names of people who’ve influenced our world. These names only need to be mentioned, and you know exactly what they helped to start. But it’s not only big names that make a difference.
Think about the countless service men and women, the teachers and doctors, the single moms and dads, the big sisters and little brothers, the volunteers and donors. If you stop and take a moment to look around, I am confident that you will find more names of “common” people who have made an impact on your life than some of the biggest names in history.
You don’t have to be famous to make a positive impact on the world.
For every “famous” figure, there are a million others who have not gotten the spotlight, but who have made and are continuing to make change in this world. These people live a life of satisfaction without every household knowing their name. These courageous individuals are aware of their burden and commit to doing something about it. And so should you.
Famous people can be encouraging and serve as role models, but remember, beyond the flashiness of their fame, they are just another person like you or me. Their achievements, for one reason or another, thrust them into the spotlight, but it doesn’t mean their contribution is more meaningful than yours.
One day, your contribution may land you in the spotlight, but I can promise you this: not one of the “famous” people I listed started out thinking, “I wonder what I can do to become a household name…” They all started with a burden. Something deep within them stirred, and they had to act. Year after year, they labored and toiled to make a change in the world.
What’s your burden? What is the thing that you think about often? The thing that stirs you at the core and makes you say, “Something must be done about this.”
Don’t Ignore the Stirring Within
In our world, there is a spirit of complacency that surrounds us. We trudge through life without joy and do work without meaning or purpose. We give up on our hopes and dreams for a life that satisfies our comfortable patterns. Instead of taking a risk to chase after a dream that could change the world around us, we stay still and accept things as they are. Realizing these truths has caused a stirring deep within me.
My burden is to help people discover their unique purpose for life and work. I want to help people know and believe they have been created to accomplish unique and amazing things. I am deeply moved to action when I see people who feel "stuck" in life and have no idea what their purpose for living is.
I wager that you have a deep burden within yourself. Your burden may not be to help people find their purpose in life, but there’s something you care deeply about that makes you say, "I must do something!"
Slow down for a minute and answer these questions.
What’s your burden? What stirs you at the core and motivates you to want to do something that will ensure lasting change in the world?
Acknowledge whatever comes to mind. Think about this burden. Write it down. Say it out loud.
You have been created to make a change in this world and show people the love of God. You have unique gifts, talents, experiences, and perspectives that will help many people and change this world. You have a burden deep within you that can't be ignored. You haven’t been created to coast through life and merely "survive." You have been created to thrive. Your life and your work are meant to be filled with PURPOSE.
You must be brave and move forward when everyone else stays behind. Though the task might seem impossible, you know something must be done. There will be doubt, and you’ll feel the fear, but still, you must act. Your one act of courage can spark a fire within the people in this world. You can start a movement by taking a courageous step forward.
Are you ready to acknowledge your burden and take a brave step toward doing something about it? Are you ready to make a change in this world for other people to experience? Are you ready to inspire others with your brave action?
Be courageous and take a step towards making a change. Prepare to be amazed at what your action will do. It starts with you. It starts with your unique purpose.