It’s pointless.

I feel helpless.

Does faith really help?

Do I matter?

Often in the midst of overwhelming circumstances these are the statements that float to the top of my mind (well, my heart, really…).  I turn to Scripture to be reminded of the truth, and this particular passage has captured my attention – especially when I feel insignificant.

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. -Acts 19:11,12

The apostle Paul was just a man (I’m speaking in the most generic sense of the word – human); albeit a transformed man.  God worked through Paul and He can work through us, because it isn’t what God works through, but it’s the fact that it is God working.

Paul dramatically encountered the truth of Christ in such a dynamic way that he could not live any other way but with God.  We are human, too.  We, also, can encounter truth that sinks into the depths of our being and transforms us.  Truth is readily available to us and will transform us.  God draws us near to His heart with truth that we hope is also true for us.  We read it in Scripture or hear it referenced in a song (read more about finding truth that you can grab on to here).  When we linger in His presence, He convinces us that it is true for us.  We start living in a way that shows we’ve grabbed on to that truth and won’t let go.  Truth begins it’s transforming work in our lives.

God is working.

And… God is working through us.  In the Scripture above it is recorded that even the handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul were used to heal people.  Handkerchiefs and aprons! God can use even the smallest and oddest thing to work through!

So now, what are the handkerchiefs and aprons that we have touched that have gone back and healed people because we’ve let God work through us?  Is your handkerchief a sincere compliment that boosted someone’s self-esteem at just the right time?  Is it lending your talent to your community for a need that you could uniquely meet? Or is your apron the prayers that you’ve spoken from your heart on someone’s behalf?  Is it sitting next to a hurting person in their grief and just being present?

My point is, don’t excuse the small things you are prompted to do.  Expect God to work miracles through all things – even the handkerchiefs and aprons.   He did that for Paul, after all, and Paul was just a man.

Thanks for reading!  This is just one of my ways of putting a smile back in the world!