{"id":3374,"date":"2026-07-20T04:46:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T08:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lorihatcher.com\/?p=3374"},"modified":"2026-07-28T10:40:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:40:37","slug":"one-simple-act-when-the-world-is-dark-and-you-feel-overwhelmed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lorihatcher.com\/?p=3374","title":{"rendered":"One Simple Act When the World Is Dark and You Feel Overwhelmed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lori here ~ What can we do when the world seems dark and the needs of others overwhelm us?<\/strong> Today\u2019s post shares a suggestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand Central Station Meets Bluey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vacation Bible school with seventeen preschoolers felt a little like Grand Central Station meets Bluey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever noticed that preschoolers don\u2019t walk? They bounce. And they don\u2019t whisper. Ever. They shout with all the passion and delight their little bodies can muster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you enter a VBS room full of excited children, every one of them wants to hold your hand or sit in your lap. And they all want to tell you about their day. At the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMommy-said-I-could-have-a-popsicle-after-lunch-but-I-had-to-eat-it-outside-because-it-drips-but-then-my-dog-jumped-on-me-and-knocked-it-out-of-my-hand-and-I-cried-a-lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you add personalities to the noise, it gets even more interesting. Clayton\u2019s missing his mom. Peter bursts into tears every time someone looks sideways at him. Chloe and Ezra had a fight on the way to church. John bumped his knee getting out of the van, and Patrick\u2019s mad because his sister got the last purple lollipop at the Welcome desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seventeen voices. Seventeen sets of needs. Seventeen little souls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overwhelming? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh yeah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How could we ever impact them for Christ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weeks Later<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Weeks after VBS, I felt the same sense of overwhelm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hard life circumstances swirled around me like those precious children rushing into our VBS classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dear friend faced surgery with an uncertain outcome. A beloved mentor was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and given months, maybe weeks to live. A neighbor succumbed to a mysterious illness and needed help with childcare. A grieving family needed a shoulder to cry on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My tender heart wept, and my heart longed for Jesus to return and make everything right again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How could I ever impact them all for Christ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Needs Are Great<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the needs are great and our time, resources, and energy is small, how can we minister in Jesus\u2019s name?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Vacation Bible School, when the craziness threatened to overwhelm us, the leader turned off the lights and plunged the room into darkness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seventeen busy little bodies stilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then a single flicker of light pierced the shadows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the quiet, we heard her voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis little light of mine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna let it shine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis little light of mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second light appeared and the chorus continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet it shine \u2018til Jesus comes. I\u2019m gonna let it shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it shine \u2018til Jesus comes. I\u2019m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helpers handed out flickering glow sticks until the darkness lifted and every child\u2019s face shone in the gentle light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the hard things pressed into my spirit, discouraging and defeating me, I remembered the calm that had quelled our classroom chaos. Suddenly, I knew what to do when the needs of life make me feel overwhelmed and inadequate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Little Light of Mine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s better to light a single candle than to sit and curse the darkness,\u201d a wise man once said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus said to His disciples, \u201cYou are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven\u201d (Matthew 5:14-16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t meet every need that comes to my attention, but I can meet some. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t fix every problem, but I can lighten someone\u2019s load and lend a hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can take a meal to my sick friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Send a note of thanks to my dying mentor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babysit, run an errand, make a phone call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can pray a prayer asking God to do the impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of lamenting what I can\u2019t do, I\u2019ll do what I can. I\u2019ll offer up the meager loaves and fishes of my time, talent, and treasure to Jesus and ask Him to multiply them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHide it under a bushel? No! I\u2019m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you drowning under the weight of sickness, brokenness, and pain in this world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grab your candle.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time to let it shine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Have you ordered your copy of Walking in Faith? Releasing August 4!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal Update from Lori for Refresh Readers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to so many of you who responded to my call out for thoughtful readers to join my Launch Team! Thank you also to those of you who have preordered copies of Walking in Faith<\/a><\/em>. Pre-orders are crucial for retailers to assess the demand of a book and order plenty. If you haven\u2019t ordered your copy (ies) yet and would like to, Check out these listings: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ChristianBook.com<\/a> ($12.99), Amazon<\/a> ($16.98), Barnes and Noble<\/a>($16.99), and Our Daily Bread Publishing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jamie preordered from Barnes and Noble and has already RECEIVED her copy (Here\u2019s the pic she sent me to proove that it had arrived). When you receive your copy, would you shoot me an email and tell me where you ordered from and when it arrived? I\u2019m very curious to see who handles distribution best \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you subscribed to Refresh?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lori here ~ What can we do when the world seems dark and the needs of others overwhelm us? Today\u2019s post shares a suggestion. Grand Central Station Meets Bluey Vacation Bible school with seventeen preschoolers felt a little like Grand Central Station meets Bluey.  Have you ever noticed that preschoolers don\u2019t walk? They bounce. And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

Shine the Light of Jesus When the World Is Dark and You Feel Overwhelmed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vacation Bible school with seventeen preschoolers feels a little like Grand Central Station meets Bluey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever noticed that preschoolers don\u2019t walk? They bounce. And they don\u2019t whisper. Ever. They shout with all the passion and delight their little bodies can muster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you enter a room full of children, every one of them wants to hold your hand or sit in your lap. And they all want to tell you about their day. At the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMommy-said-I-could-have-a-popsicle-after-lunch-but-I-had-to-eat-it-outside-because-it-drips-but-then-my-dog-jumped-on-me-and-knocked-it-out-of-my-hand-and-I-cried-a-lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you add personalities to the noise, it gets even more interesting. Clayton\u2019s missing his mom. Peter bursts into tears every time someone looks sideways at him. Chloe and Ezra had a fight on the way to church. John bumped his knee getting out of the van, and Patrick\u2019s mad because his sister got the last purple lollipop at the Welcome desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seventeen voices. Seventeen sets of needs. Seventeen little souls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overwhelming? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh yeah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How could we ever impact them for Christ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weeks later, I felt the same sense of overwhelm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hard life circumstances swirled around me like those precious children rushing into our VBS classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dear friend faced surgery with an uncertain outcome. A beloved mentor was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and given months, maybe weeks to live. A neighbor succumbed to a mysterious illness and needed help with childcare. A grieving family needed a shoulder to cry on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My tender heart wept, and my heart longed for Jesus to return and make everything right again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the needs are great, how can we, people with limited time and resources, minister in Jesus\u2019s name?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Vacation Bible School, when the craziness threatened to overwhelm us, the leader turned off the lights and plunged the room into darkness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silence descended like a blanket as the busy little bodies stilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then a single flicker of light pierced the shadows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the quiet, we heard a voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis little light of mine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna let it shine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis little light of mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second light appeared and the chorus continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet it shine \u2018til Jesus comes. I\u2019m gonna let it shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it shine \u2018til Jesus comes. I\u2019m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helpers handed out flickering glow sticks until the darkness lifted and every child\u2019s face shone in the gentle light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the hard things pressed into my spirit, discouraging and defeating me, I remembered the calm that had quelled our classroom chaos. Suddenly, I knew what to do when the needs of life make me feel overwhelmed and inadequate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s better to light a single candle than to sit and curse the darkness,\u201d a wise man once said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus said to His disciples, \u201cYou are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven\u201d (Matthew 5:14-16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t meet every need that comes to my attention, but I can meet some. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t fix every problem, but I can lighten someone\u2019s load and lend a hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can take a meal to my sick friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Send a note of thanks to my dying mentor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babysit, run an errand, make a phone call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can pray a prayer asking God to do the impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of lamenting what I can\u2019t do, I\u2019ll do what I can. I\u2019ll offer up the meager loaves and fishes of my time, talent, and treasure to Jesus and ask Him to multiply them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHide it under a bushel? No! I\u2019m gonna let it shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hide it under a bushel? No! I\u2019m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you drowning under the weight of sickness, brokenness, and pain in this world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grab your candle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time to let it shine.<\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,1],"tags":[1419,11,1416,1417,1418,1415,1420],"class_list":["post-3374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-living","category-uncategorized","tag-how-can-i-meet-every-need","tag-lori-hatcher","tag-matthew-514-16","tag-one-simple-act-when-the-world-is-dark-and-you-feel-overwhelmed","tag-there-is-too-much-sadness-in-the-world","tag-what-to-do-when-we-feel-overwhelmed-by-the-darkness-and-needs-around-us","tag-when-your-prayer-list-is-too-long"],"yoast_head":"\nOne Simple Act When the World Is Dark and You Feel Overwhelmed - Lori Hatcher<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What can we do when the world seems dark and the needs of others overwhelm us? 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