Even before studying Public health, I have struggled so much with my human limitations and the number of hours I have each day and the amount of things I want to be able to do. The other night, reading about yet another issue in this world that is harming people healthwise and the injustices in the system, I was in tears about how on earth in 12 months I have to pick which area to work in because there are so many people who need help and my heart just breaks for all of them. But my mum reminded me, yet again, that I am not called to save the whole entire world - that's Jesus' job!! All I am called to do is to love people, help people, and make a difference ‘in my world’. At the moment, my world is just my friends, my church community, my uni, my workplace, my family and everyone on 1 Thes 5:11. In the future, my “world” will get bigger, and only God knows how big or small that will actually be, but if Jesus would leave the 99 for the 1,( Luke 15:1-7) then even if in my whole career, I help 1 person, then THAT IS ENOUGH. Obviously we want to help as many people as we can, but we do that best by being faithful in each season that God places us in, and how we treat and care for the people around us. It’s no use me locking myself up to study so I can climb a really high career ladder in public health or go out on the streets preaching the gospel, if Jesus actually has called me to turn up to my local school and volunteer to play games with the 6 kids that turn up every week who need Jesus just as much.
It always amazes me how intricately God has designed the world and His people - He puts different passions and different issues on people’s hearts so that overall, there are people in every area working to make a difference. I love seeing my friends head in all different directions and see God call them to fight for all different issues and help people in all different ways. It’s a very humbling reminder of how big God is and how little I am...But also so encouraging knowing that I can trust that God is in control. God loves all these people and He is calling His people to help them. Romans 12:4-6 says “For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.” So ask yourself, "Who is around me? What am I passionate about? How can I further develop and use my own unique gifts in my world?"
I am blessed to have some amazing and inspirational people in my life, including my mother. A few years back, I was talking with my grandma and she was talking about how when my mum was little, she wanted to change the world when she grew up and it struck me that yes, she may not have influenced the whole world, but she has changed HER world hugely. She’s a teacher and the most gifted and compassionate person I have ever come across - some of the students both at school, that she’s tutored, and even looked after through Young Life over the years, have been some special characters that would drive a normal person crazy. But instead, mum just loves them and encourages them and has had an incredible impact in their lives for however long they are in her world. She is a shining example of how God has called His people to love people unconditionally, and to be a light in someone’s world, and this has given her (and continues to give her) such incredible opportunities to share Jesus and walk alongside people.
So if you’re like me, keep dreaming big, reach for the stars and help as many people as you can. But don't try be superman haha - keep your eyes open to who is around you right now, and serve them. Make a difference in YOUR world. And if making a difference isn’t already on your agenda - put it on! Don’t be overwhelmed by the huge need, just be excited to be a small part of that and just start off finding 1 person in your world that you can love better and you’ve already made a difference. We won’t see the extent of our impact this side of the pearly gates, but even when you can’t see it, God uses all things to plant seeds in people’s hearts and the smallest thing like a friendly hello to a stranger walking by, to the larger things like taking in a foster child, all make a difference. Be encouraged beautiful people - you are here for a reason and purpose beyond what you could imagine and God will use you to change your world wherever you are!!
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