In the heart of a bustling campus, a student once found himself frustrated by the sluggish flow of information. He had an idea to start a social media page and become the unofficial source for all news, events, and critical updates. Despite his efforts, the response was underwhelming. Doubts crept in, and he contemplated throwing in the towel. One day, he did just that – he quit. What happened next took him by surprise. People began to contact him, urging him to continue. In that moment, he realized a profound truth: he was having a greater impact than he could have imagined.
Sometimes, it’s easy to underestimate the value of your work, to think it’s irrelevant. You are unable to see the results that would justify the amount of time, energy, and resources you are devoting to the project. You began with a lot of zeal and determination. You imagined the impact of your work and how it would forever change your world. However, the reality is different. You have the impression that nothing is happening. According to the Bible, “hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12). Indeed, not getting the results you want can be heartbreaking.
Set a reasonable expectation for your work to save yourself from these negative thoughts and emotions. Your work is more important than you realize, and you are making a difference. There is, however, no such thing as an overnight success. It will always take time to dominate any industry or niche. Over time, your company, ministry, or nonprofit will grow and evolve into the massive organization you envision. Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should greatly increase (Job 8:7). Never forget that our Lord Jesus encouraged us to pray so that we would not lose heart (Luke 18:1). All will be well.