The Negativity RemedySample

Day 5:  How can my little act of kindness or the way I respond to difficult people possibly change the world?  

Have you ever seen someone smile and all of a sudden, their whole face changes? It’s almost as if a light is radiating out of them. 

When I see someone smile like that, I can’t help but smile too. 

The smile is a powerful thing. In its presence, there is no fear, no worry, no hurriedness. There is just peace and a precious moment of joy.

I think that’s because what shines through a true smile is love, and God tells us love and fear cannot coexist.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

Can you imagine having the power to drive out fear in our world? Well, guess what? You do! That’s the power of kindness. When we smile, say an encouraging word, or even hold our tongue when someone else is baiting us, we bring light to the world.

As children of God, we know it’s our job to love, but I think we get confused sometimes on how important it is to step into that role. We start asking questions like, “How could someone like me possibly make a difference?” Maybe we get discouraged and decide to keep that smile or that word of encouragement to ourselves. But your light is your superpower when it comes to creating big change in this world.

Let’s break this down. 

1. We love Jesus, therefore we have the light of God within us (John 8:12).

2. When we shine that light, the area around us becomes brighter.

3. When everyone who loves Jesus shines, the whole world becomes brighter! 

Can you see why the Word of God tells us not to hide our light?  

God gives us even more guidance in this verse: 

Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. (Isaiah 58:10 NLT)

When I first read this verse, I took it very literally. I need to cook for people and figure out a solution when they come to me with a problem. But as I studied it, I began to see it in a broader view. Every one of us is hungry for something: love, attention, affection. Every one of us has troubles: daily worries, doubts, diagnoses.

When we give a moment to the person in front of us, we are feeding them, we are helping them, and we are shining light into their darkness. When we shine light into their darkness, we shine light into our own.

God created kindness to bless the receiver, sure. But He also created kindness to bless the giver and everyone else who is in the midst of the great light that radiates from it.

Go ahead. Smile. Turn the light on wherever you go. You’ll brighten the day of everyone blessed enough to cross your path. You’ll be standing in the midst of God’s radiant presence, and without even knowing it, you will have changed the world.