15 Bible Verses About Making a Difference

Most of us face moments when we wonder if we’re making a difference in the world.  We can turn to God’s Word for hope and encouragement in these times.  Today, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses about making a difference.

Often, our idea of what it means to make a difference is vastly different from God’s idea.

I invite you into my struggle with the idea of making an impact, and we’ll take a closer look at God’s calling for all of us.

Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you in your calling.

15 Bible Verses About Making a Difference

I don’t wake up thinking of ways to change the world when our five-year-old pounds on the bedroom door at a quarter ‘til six.  Mostly, I count the hours since the baby last stirred and realize I have slept exactly 32 minutes since the fifth feeding of the night.

Most likely, there are quiet places of difficult service in your life, too.

We all have our hard and hidden callings.

Your daily calling might feel more like the monotony of cubicle life than a thriving ministry.

Maybe your daily grind continues in a cycle that seems never to end.  Most likely, no one is standing on the sidelines cheering you on.  Not that you need an audience.  But in the quiet moments of your days, you admit that a little encouragement would be nice.

This winter has been filled with ups and downs that have challenged and shaped my faith.  There were hard losses.  We faced illnesses that kept our little family house-bound for weeks on end.  We canceled too many plans.

There were also lessons.

I’m gleaning a few lessons about how to be the kind of woman who changes the world, even if that change is happening in a quiet little corner of a small town where life feels rather ordinary.  Let’s look at what God’s Word has to say as we explore 15 Bible verses about making a difference.

15 Bible Verses About Making a Difference

1. Proverbs 19:21 (NASB)

Many plans are in a person’s heart,
But the advice of the Lord will stand.

I am a planner.  I thrive on a daily schedule.  Normalcy and predictability bring me peace.

I struggle when God throws a curveball and my plans are thrown out the window.

This happened so much this winter that we actually lived with a closet full of bags packed for a weekend trip that was postponed for six straight weekends.

For six straight weeks, I left those bags packed, and when it was time to finally make the trip, I was happy to be done living with only three pairs of socks.  Baby Aiden had grown into a new size of clothing, and his bag needed to be fully repacked.  I forgot what I’d put in the snack bag and pulled it all out to begin again.

Ultimately, we made our trip to visit our beloved grandparents across the state.  The roads were clear.  The kids were healthy, and we went in God’s perfect timing.

Ultimately, this is the most important lesson from it all: We can make our plans, but we are ultimately called to trust in God’s purposes.

If you’re struggling with the fact that your plans don’t seem to align with God’s plans, don’t lose heart.  We can make plans, but God’s purposes prevail.  Do your best to embrace the assignment in front of you and trust that God wants to use you even if these aren’t circumstances you would have chosen for yourself.

2. 2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

My life bears witness to the fact that I need Jesus again and again.

I need him when I succumb to the habitual behaviors that fill me with shame, when I snap at my kids, and when I feel like a failure for a thousand different reasons.

I’m a perfectionist by nature.  I want to be the perfect follower of Christ, the perfect mom, and the perfect bearer of fruit.  My inability to be perfect in any of these areas is my reminder that Christ’s power is made perfect in my weaknesses.

If you want to make an impact, show up with your imperfections and press hard into Jesus as you ask him to work through you.  Your moments of greatest impact in this world will be the moments when Jesus lives through you, and this often happens in the weak places.

3. Psalm 118:24

This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

Look for the reasons to rejoice today.  Remember that this day is a gift from God.

Most likely, there will be difficult moments.  Nevertheless, there will be goodness threaded through the troubles as well.  Ask God to help you rejoice and be glad in this day.  Your joy will impact the world around you.

My precious grandma went to be with the Lord a few short weeks ago.  As we said goodbye, and as we continued to look forward to seeing her again in heaven, I was reminded to cherish my loved ones like it’s the last time every time we’re together.

I’m reminded of the brevity of life.

What if we kept this in mind throughout our everyday moments: when the kids or the clients or the friends are driving us up the walls?  What if we stopped to remember the mothers who would give anything for one more day with their little ones in their lives?  How would life shift if we stopped grumbling and paused to give thanks, to cherish these moments, realizing they won’t last forever?

4.  Matthew 28:19

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Never lose sight of the high calling to make God’s love known to the world.

I’m in the thick of these years of raising little ones.

When we’re in the thick of it, it’s easy to forget about the high calling to make God’s love known to the world.

I’ve been reading books about followers who were sold out for this calling: Jim Elliot, Elisabeth Elliot, Rachel Saint, William Cameron Townsend, and more.

What if you took a few minutes each day to remind yourself of the importance of sharing the gospel with the world?  What if you made up your mind to be more intentional about telling others about the hope we have in Jesus?

This kind of living would certainly change the world around you, as you offer the greatest gift of salvation through Christ to those who need it.

5. Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us.

As we apply these Bible verses about leaving an impact to our lives, it’s worth reflecting on the words of Hebrews 12:1.  We will leave an impact when we throw off the sins that entangle us.  This involves discipline and commitment.

Want to break free from some certain comfort sin?  Spend a week fasting from it, and you will put your flesh in its rightful place.  You will find a gateway to freedom through discipline.

Want to encounter Jesus in deeper ways?  Make it a priority to spend even a few minutes with him every morning.  He will draw near to you as you draw near to him.

Throw off the sins that are holding you back, seek God’s face, and you’ll be ready to make an impact for the glory of God.

Bible Verses About Making a Difference by Loving Others

The following Scriptures have one common thread: They remind us that we make a difference by loving well.

6. 1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

In our flesh, most of us lean toward keeping a record of the ways others offend us.

This verse reminds us that loving well covers the sins and shortcomings of others.  We are called to extend forgiveness freely and release others from their mistakes and sins, refusing to hold onto offense.

Here are a few practical examples:

We limit the frequency with which we “vent” to our friends about our spouses’ shortcomings.

We don’t mentally keep track of the wrongs of others so that we can later use them as ammunition in arguments.

When people hurt us, we set boundaries, but we don’t indefinitely hold these offenses against them.

We ask Got to help us forgive as we have been forgiven.

We learn to let go rather than ruminating, trusting God with the hearts and minds of our loved ones.

These are practical ways to make a difference through simple acts of love and kindness.

7. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 

We make an impact on others by loving them unconditionally.  When we love others unconditionally, we put their needs first.  We are patient, kind, and caring.

Patience includes bearing with others when they push our buttons.  Kindness includes sacrificing out needs to care for others according to God’s calling.

We love well by being humble instead of arrogant, kind rather than rude.

We don’t insist on always having our way.  Rather, we selflessly look for ways to put others first.

We aren’t irritable, and people do not need to walk on eggshells in our presence.

If these Bible verses about making a difference challenged you, I invite you to explore our devotional books and library of free devotionals and eBooks! Be blessed as you aim to make a difference by carrying God’s love and truth into this world!

Calling All Parents and Grandparents!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God.  Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision.  They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love.  You can find all three books here or read more below.

Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom.  Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world.  I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven!  You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord.  Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion.  I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven.  Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20.  It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing.  This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start.  Bekah and I will help you right here.

Find Our Family Devotionals Here

Find all three books right here.  They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial!  These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them.  Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.

Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing

God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone.  Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life.  Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here.  (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!

A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God

If these Bible verses about making a difference blessed you, I have a gift for you.  God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment.  Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us.  I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment.  Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free.  I invite you to explore the collection right here!