Do Your Efforts to Help Seem So Small That It Stops You From Even Trying?

Hey Everyone,

I am often distraught by the news -- most recently, the aftermath of various natural disasters in the USA, leaving many people homeless and in despair. I have very mixed feelings about how our government seems much more interested in what's going on in other countries rather than the needs of its own people -- but this thread is NOT about political issues.

Rather, there are many times when I see a situation like this, then read about the billions of dollars it will cost to rebuild, and am left wondering what I can do (besides just pray.) Then I'll see front "news" headlines about wealthy people donating large sums -- and it always feels like, "Well God, the $5 or $10 I could donate isn't going to do much, so I guess I shouldn't even bother."

And then God reminded me of a Bible story I hadn't thought of in a long time -- The Widow's Mite.

"And He looked up and saw the rich putting gifts into the treasury, and He also saw a certain widow putting two mites (less than a penny combined.) And He said, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all; for all these put in offerings to God out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on."

As a kid, I often wondered what would have happened if I had literally put in all I had to live on, including my family's house. But what I've come to understand, and I believe is what God was telling me, is that whatever a believer gives through faith and sincerity, no matter how seemingly small, it can be used by God to do more than any amount put together by those who don't have the right attitude towards God.

He also reminded me of the stories of Jesus feeding thousands of people with just a few small fish and loaves of bread (Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 15:29-39.) This was a big reminder to me that even small amounts can indeed be used in big ways if God is behind them.

He also prompted me to remember the fact that the Bible says even if we give someone a cup of water in His name, it's as if we are doing so unto Him (Matthew 10:42.)

And I know that God was telling me, no matter what I have to give, even if it's just a prayer, go ahead and do so because "The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much (is powerful and effective".) -- James 5:16.

How about you?

* What are some times when you've felt overwhelmed by a situation, and felt you had little or nothing to give?

* Did you decide to give anyways? Why or why not?

* What factors help you decide whether or not give something, even if it doesn't seem like very much?


I find it very comforting to know that God blesses even the smallest of our efforts when done with the right heart.

I hope you too will be encouraged to keep helping and know that God will see to it that anything you put forth will not be wasted. ❤️🙏🌹

I balance cost versus benefit.

I had a Bluetooth speaker I was not using at the time. Covid had just hit, and an elderly lady in our church found out she had cancer right at the same time. Because of how chemotherapy affects your immune system, she had to stay in her home at all times. This put a crimp in her style because she liked to talk to people.

I loaded up a microSD card with a lot of the songs she liked, plugged it in the back of the speaker and gave it to her. She loved it. Cost, very small. Benefit, very large.

On the other hand there was a guy at work with a phone he had totally cracked all to bits. I gave him an old phone I wasn't using anymore. Two weeks later he had it cracked too. I did not give him another one. The cost to me would have been small, but the benefit would have been much smaller. He would have broken that one very shortly.

I can't do a thing for these big problems, so that's not an issue for me. All I can do is small things. But in the small things, I can at least use some common sense. I will leave the big things to those who can handle big things.

Because the little or lot that you give does ultimately supply needs to those who need them. It might be diapers, baby formula, propane, MREs, and water and it all goes to those in need.

I personally find it hard to give to homeless people on the street the older I get. For 1 we don't have a ton a money and I want my kids to eat. But the main reason is because so many people panhandle and are not even homeless. If I truly believed they were in need I would be more inclined to help. I see the same people asking for money and some are young men. Amazon hires without even an interview. There are tons of ways to make money nowadays. I've seen the area they left with food everywhere. They didn't even eat it.

The older I get the less I believe people. For example I live near a poor neighborhood. I've waited in line 4 people behind... no one in front of me paid for their prescriptions and they had a ton. When you're poor it's free. Prescriptions are so expensive... even if you're healthy. The poor get complete medical coverage free.

If you watch youtube the people who get free housing or reduced housing live in places similar to mine. Granted I think that's a money trap too and of course it's a bad neighborhood. But there's a much more blurred line between being poor and middle class.

When you're poor you get so much for free. Food, medical, housing, child support for kids or welfare for them. Many of the women are stay at home moms. I can't be a stay at home mom.... although I do work from home. Kids in poor families often get similar items to middle class kids. But in middle class families everything goes on a card and in poor families they get the essentials (even phones) for free so they can afford more toys.

That's not to say it's always like this but it can be hard bc I work with poor families and live near it. I'm familiar with how it works. The government rewards not getting married or fatherless homes. Also they reward not working or barely working. If they make too much money they lose their free housing, etc. So they're stuck and there are big struggles simply from the lack of options and the fatherless aspect. So they turn to under the table type of money, including begging for money. Then they leave in their fancy cars.

That being said I don't feel right not helping, but I prefer more tangible items like giving essentials to the homeless or kids. I never round up for charities....I hate the entire concept. I will give money if I know it's going to a good cause and it's something I truly believe in. You can never give to every charity out there. There was a time a said yes to all but never felt it in my heart. When I see a person I truly feel in need and who works hard I will help. I prefer doing it this way.

Always carry a sack of canned vegetables in pop-top cans. A variety is best - beans, corn, tomatoes, a few other things.

Offer a can of vegetables. If they turn that down, try a different can. If they turn down two in a row, they probably don't really NEED help. If they accept it, give them a $20 with it.

That's the best way I know to determine which beggars are really in need.

James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Hi @blueluna5,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this. I found your post to be extremely informative, especially since you have experience working with struggling families.

Where I grew up, you didn't see panhandlers or people begging -- not because they didn't exist, but because the local laws prevented such people from "working their hustle" in that area.

It was a shock to my system to move to areas where people are ask for money literally everywhere, stand with signs on every corner, and live in tents on every patch of "public" property (like corners of suburban neighborhoods) because it's completely legal in that region.

Even the "good" neighborhoods aren't completely free of this, and the fentanyl problem is known to be so out of hand, even the police won't approach the shanty towns in some areas. It's also very disheartening to know that many times, women, children, and babies are used as lures to ambush/rob those wanting to try to help.

I often feel distraught at seeing so much suffering. But I know some people might be posing or refusing to make the changes to get out of their situation. Being a single woman, I rarely stop to talk to anyone on the streets due to safety concerns (unless I feel VERY strongly moved by God -- and even then, I hesitate.)

Being adopted, I've always felt a strong need to give back because I know very well that homelessness and street life could have been my fate, too. I see a piece of myself in these people. But I would rather give to those experienced in working with these populations rather than to the people themselves. For several years, I've tried my best to support my old adoption agency, but I realize we can never find a "perfect" charity to give to.

Just this morning I read about a disturbing case in which more and more South Korean women are coming forward with legal action because their babies and children were stolen from them and adopted out to other countries. In this particular article, my adoption agency wasn't being accused of kidnapping children directly, but it was being held responsible for not doing enough to research the child's background before adopting them out.

Children will always be a hot commodity, even it it's to loving families who really want a child, and there will always be a large black market working to sell them.

It's very disheartening, and while I still believe in my adoption agency (after all, I'm a product of it,) I do believe God has shifted my focus to other causes.

There have been times though that I believe God has assured me that even if I gave (at His direction or with the right heart) to someone or an organization that did not handle things properly, He will still work it out for His purpose. In fact, there are some times I felt He told me to give something even if that person/group would misuse it because it was an opportunity for God to confront them about their wrongdoing.

I think it's similar to the story of Samson telling his parents to get a Philistine girl as a wife for him, and even though his parents are understandably upset, the Bible says that "this was from God, because He was looking for an opportunity to confront the Philistines."

Similarly, I think there are times when God might lead His people to give unwarranted blessings to some who misuse them (after all, He does the same for us everyday,) because He will use it as part of their correction. (I think of the passage that says we are heaping fiery coals on the head of our enemies when we repay evil with good.)

This gave me a lot more peace when trying to help. But of course, I still try my best to use discernment and caution.

God bless you for your compassion for others and the wisdom you are sharing with people like me!

My only complaint is if you donate like to the Red Cross or something just as an example, here’s a fact based on true data only 10% of donations ever make it to the recipient.


I understand what your point and you what you mean, but because it’s all about the heart, and I get that, but if you’re trying to make a difference, sometimes your funds just get sucked up in the bureaucracy and paying the fat salaries of these fake nonprofits.

Uh... My dad worked for the Red Cross. I can tell you for a fact that your facts are not factual.