You’re right up to a point; it’s easy to feel helpless when reading about a famine or natural disaster in some foreign land that threatens the lives of millions. It’s easy too to feel helpless when reading about the dropout rate in your local school system, or the number of homeless or hungry in your community.

No, you can’t solve everything — but don’t let that keep you from doing what you can! The Bible says, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (Galatians 6:10). Do you remember the poor widow who gave only two small coins to God’s work? Jesus commended her for it — not because she gave a large amount, but because she gave everything she possibly could (you can read about her in Luke 21:1-4). Her love for God (and for others) was more important than the amount of her gift.

Remember: God can use our gifts in ways we could never imagine. Ask God to guide you in your giving. It may be by supporting the work your church is doing in your community, or by sending money to an international Christian humanitarian aid organization.

But God can use you in other ways also — helping a single parent who lives near you, or simply being a friend to someone who is going through hard times. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).