It was a cold, sunny day. I was sitting in my car enjoying the warmth from the sun through the window while waiting on my grandma. Browsing through a magazine, I came across an article. A horrific, heart-breaking news article. My eyes filled with tears, I sank back into my seat and just listened to my pounding heart. I didn’t know how to respond or even process what I had just read. I started thinking about this broken world we live in and felt so helpless.

Too often the enormity of what’s wrong in this world leaves us feeling confused and powerless. Make no mistake about it, that’s the enemy telling us we can’t. He wants us to be so overwhelmed that we don't see a way to change the world. Knowing this is POWERFUL.

Over lunch, my grandma and I talked about the news and discussed ways to help. At the end of our conversation, she asked me what I was going to do about it. Wait...do something...what? It’s one thing to talk about it, but it’s completely different to put action to it.

No, I couldn’t eliminate all the mean and evil from this world but knowing that didn’t leave me helpless anymore. It made me more determined to focus and make a difference where I was—in my world.

You, my friend, are gifted. You have the influence to make change. It takes that first step in faith to lead the change you know must happen. Encouraging others through your actions is world-changing. When you start positive change in your world, it becomes contagious.

It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Together we can change the world!