From Brandon Waite, Director of Program Success
It’s no coincidence that, in the Gospels, Jesus often compares the Kingdom of God to very small, easily overlooked objects.
The Kingdom of God isn’t like a roaring wind or a wildfire or some other big, world-shaping force.
No, the Kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard.
A sower’s seed.
A bit of yeast.
Even when he compares the Kingdom to a treasure, it’s a treasure hidden in a field (Matt 13:44). A treasure no one can see or enjoy without first doing the inglorious work of digging in the dirt and hauling it out.
As a mentor, I find that oddly comforting.
There are times that God’s movement in the lives of our students is obvious and unmissable. But there are just as many moments when we wonder how—or whether—God is blessing the mentoring relationships. In those moments, troubling questions begin to surface. Questions that, over time, can sow discouragement and cynicism in the heart of a mentor.
Is an hour really enough time to make a difference in a kid’s life?
Will they remember any of this when they’re older?
Do they even enjoy spending time with me?
Questions like these aren’t evidence of a lack of faith. They’re a byproduct of trying to walk the way of Jesus in a world where the Kingdom of God is already in our midst…but isn’t yet here in its fullness. A world where it’s often difficult to see how God is at work to make the world whole and right and well.
In those moments, may you remember that during his ministry, Jesus assured his followers the Kingdom he came to proclaim would seem too small or out-of-the way to make a difference. But he also accompanied that assurance with an important reminder: With God’s blessing, small things grow into big things—often so slowly that we don’t even realize it’s happening in the moment. And then, before we know it, the grain of mustard becomes a tree (Mark 4). The seed brings a harvest (Matt 13). And the bit of yeast works its way through sixty pounds of flour (Luke 13).
In those moments when doubt creeps in, may you remember that God is moving the Kingdom forward, even (and maybe especially) through our small, easily overlooked acts of faithfulness. Playing one more round of Uno matters. Showing up for one more hour matters. Saying one more prayer before a mentor goes to meet with their student matters.
Your work—all of your work—matters to the mission and Kingdom of God.
You matter to the mission and Kingdom of God.