Can one person really make a difference?
It’s a question we’ve all asked at some point, especially when the needs of the world—or even just our own community—feel overwhelming. But the truth is, not only can one person make a difference—God calls each of us to do exactly that. We are called to be intentional encouragers—people who notice the needs around us and step into the gap.
A few weeks ago, I visited my eye specialist for a pre-op appointment ahead of a long-anticipated medical procedure: a cornea transplant. After 51 years of knowing this day would eventually come, I was now just a week away from surgery.
In the darkness of the exam room, my cornea specialist examined my eye using specialized equipment. I expected him to explain the delicate process of removing my damaged cornea and replacing it with a donor’s. But he didn’t. Instead, he focused on the outcome: clear eyesight restored to an eye that had lost its capacity for vision.
As we talked in the dimly lit room, he spoke about what I could look forward to—a complicated, year-long healing journey that included 16 stitches to hold the new cornea in place. And yet, I left the appointment with hope. He was intentionally encouraging me.
In future blogs, I’ll share more about why this surgery was necessary and what I’ve been learning through this transplant journey.
That moment reminded me of how often in Scripture God used ordinary individuals to accomplish extraordinary things. From Moses, who felt unqualified, to Esther, who faced great risk, to the widow who gave her last coin—God honors the faithfulness of the one who says, “Here I am, Lord. Use me.”
My surgeon didn’t focus on his skills or the technical process. He focused on the promise of healing. He chose to encourage.
The Ministry of Encouragement
One of the most overlooked but powerful forms of service is encouragement. It costs little but yields enormous impact. Encouragement strengthens the weary and anxious, uplifts the downcast, and inspires the discouraged to try again.
Some of the greatest difference-makers in my life weren’t people with titles or positions. They were people who cared enough to show up, speak hope, and remind me that I mattered. They didn’t wait for the perfect words or the right moment—they simply acted when they saw a need.
What about you?
Is there someone in your life who needs to hear, “I believe in you”? Has God nudged your heart to check in on a neighbor or to pray for a friend? Is there a phone call to make, a text to send, or an email to write?
What can you do today to lift someone else’s burden?
A Time to Speak, A Time to Act
Being an intentional encourager isn’t just about kind words. It’s also about showing up.
I remember a season in my life when I felt discouraged and uncertain about my next steps. God sent someone who didn’t try to fix me or preach a sermon. He simply listened. Then he said seven words I’ve never forgotten:
“I’m with you. We’ll face this together.”
Those words did more for me than any solution ever could. They reminded me I wasn’t alone.
We live in a world desperate for that kind of reminder.
As believers, we’re not called to isolate—we’re called to invest. Our time, our words, and our presence are some of the most powerful tools we have when used with intention.
God Works Through the Willing
You don’t need to be a pastor, speaker, or missionary to change lives. God uses those who are willing. The smallest act—offered in love—can ripple further than we may ever see.
Are you willing today to intentionally encourage someone who needs what you have to offer?
Years ago, I heard about a woman who wrote weekly notes of encouragement to young people in her church. She never saw herself as a leader. But after her passing, dozens of now-grown adults credited her simple, faithful kindness as a defining encouragement in their lives.
She didn’t set out to change the world. She simply asked God to use her—and He did.
So, What About You?
Are you living with intention toward the people God has placed around you? When was the last time you told your spouse, your child, your coworker, or your pastor how much they mean to you?
Encouragement is more than just being nice—it’s a ministry. It’s a reflection of God’s character.
Jesus Himself was the ultimate encourager—He wept with those who wept, healed the broken, and reminded His followers, “Take heart.”
Today, we are His hands and feet. And encouragement is one of the clearest ways we can reflect His love.
Three Simple Ways to Start Encouraging Today
- Write it down – Send a handwritten note or text to someone God places on your heart.
- Speak it out – Don’t hold back a compliment or a word of thanks. Say it, and mean it.
- Show up – Sometimes, the best encouragement is your presence. Be there for someone—really be there.
If you remember nothing else from this post, remember this:
Your words and your presence matter.
They carry the power to restore hope, awaken purpose, and draw people closer to the heart of God.
Let’s be known as people who live—and give—intentionally.
Are you ready to encourage someone today?
Let me know in the comments.. would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
