We all want to make an impact for good and to realize our personal legend – that divine purpose God had in mind when we created us and set deep within our hearts. But impact should not be confused with popularity or success from a human point of view. Our greatest impact might in fact appear hidden.
Certainly this is the case for many of the unsung heroes of education, ministry, and the arts. But, whatever it looks like, it can be disappointing when our calling doesn’t immediately lend itself to super bowl rings, red carpet events, our names on tall buildings, or the like. And it’s easy to feel like a failure when we work just as hard, if not harder, but we don’t have the same recognition or material marks of success as others.
To be sure, this is not just the pride of wanting fame or creature comforts. It’s a deeper sense of wanting to accomplish the work that is ours to do. And we have a vision of what this looks like that’s not realized in the way we originally thought. The problem is not in our desire, but in this limited vision.
All too often we judge success based solely on external criteria. While these can be a mark of success, it’s a mistake to assume this is the only way success can be achieved. For instance, a teacher might never be known outside of his community, but he touched the lives of countless students, who, in turn, led remarkably better lives because of his influence. It’s hard to measure such an impact based strictly on what we can see. But this doesn’t make it any less valuable. In fact, his impact might be felt for generations to come – long after otherwise external accolades have long been forgotten.
In the end, remain faithful in the work God has given you. Your impact will be great even if it remains hidden by worldly standards.
