I will never forget the sermon I once received about the seed of faith. I was in middle school, and our leader was standing in front. His arms are moving, talking about how a moment of faith is shared with with us, or share with we plant seeds – which means that the stories of God’s love that we hear from others, or tell others, will grow somewhere in our souls.
And one day, when we least expect it, or when we need those stories the most, they will come to us in memory—the seed of faith grows a foundation within us.
I was fascinated. He went on to ask us if there was ever a time when we remembered something from the past that brought us comfort—whether it was a kind word from a loved one, a verse, a quote. As he spoke I thought about how, in some of the moments of frustration, I would find calm when I thought about something random, something I had never remembered and remembered.
And how cool is that?
At that time I saw the true power of faith. Sometimes we share things with people that seem insignificant, but can have a big impact in the long run. And vice versa. Meaning the things we say, the stories we have, the love we give—that you change people’s hearts. Even though we may not see that change immediately.
As people of faith, we have the power to have a positive impact on the world.
When we share our love for God, when we give to others without holding back, when we put our hearts out there, we show the beauty of Christianity. We show what it means to love like Jesus. We point people to our Creator. We plant the seeds.
There are several amazing women who have influenced my life; the other, who I didn’t know would mold me until he left. It’s funny because we weren’t around when he was alive.
But since he has passed, I hear his voice in my head. When I start making stupid decisions, I remember his face. I come across things and start thinking about him, the passion he had for Christ, the way he shaped me without realizing it, even though he is no longer alive.
His love planted a seed.
When he told me stories from the Bible, when he explained about his travels around the world as a missionary, when he scolded me for being selfish to my younger sister, at the age of six I thought it all went to my head. I didn’t focus on his words; I ignored his truth.
But now, years later, those seeds have grown. Now, my life has changed because of what he shared with me almost twenty years ago. Those were the seeds, planted within me, shaping the way I live and love today, and always will.
So whether you know it or not, your words have value, your stories carry meaning, your heart brings truth. You may feel like you’re not doing anything important, like you’re not making an impact no matter how hard you try—but you do, you will.
Your faith changes lives—the lives of family members, friends, strangers you talk to for a moment. You can make a difference by talking about your love for Christ, by showing who he is and has the potential to be to anyone who accepts him.
Even though you may feel insignificant, you are important. Even if you think your stories are falling on deaf ears, they are being heard. Although he is tired of fighting the war of God in a world that keeps pushing him out, he is laying the foundation of faith that will emerge from that person when the time is right.
Don’t lose hope. Your words, your heart, the faith you share grows in the human soul. And in time God will grow something good.
