The Lone Voice

John 1:23

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

When the people came to John the Baptist to ask him if he was the Christ that should come into the world. The people knew they were living in the times the prophets prophesied about that the Messiah would come to the world. This is one reason the wise men came to worship Jesus, because they looked for the announcement in the stars. However, because of the works that John did, these people thought he might be the Christ. John’s response to these people was, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. He told them that he was only the voice that would prepare the way for Christ.

However, I want to take this verse one different direction to help you. John said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. It could have been easy to get discouraged for John to be the one voice that was crying in the wilderness. He could have easily become disappointed that there were no other voices helping him, but he did not. He could have easily gone on a pity-party to bemoan that nobody was helping him, but he did not. Instead, he did the work he was supposed to do, and that work did prepare the way for Christ to be introduced to the Jews and to the world.

It is easy when going through tough times to think that you are the one lone voice crying in the wilderness. Many have set themselves up for discouragement by thinking they are the only one who is preaching the truth and doing what is right. Let’s face it, we can think we are in a wilderness of people who don't care and are not doing what we tell them to do, which leads us to discouragement. Let me share four things you must do when you feel like the lone voice.

First, remember that you are likely not the only voice. Elijah felt like he was the lone voice, but God reminded him there were seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. You are not the only voice doing right. This world is a big world, and though you may not hear the other voices that are doing right, there are thousands of voices that stand for truth just like you are.

Second, be comfortable in doing the will of God. If you are in the will of God, you are doing what God wants you to do. Instead of worrying about what others are doing, you must accept what God’s will is for your life. If God’s will is to be a lone voice that no one listens to, that should be fine with you because you are doing what God wants you to do. Accepting what God’s will is for your life and doing it is one of the greatest steps to avoiding discouragement.

Third, realize that one voice can make a great difference. God is very capable of taking one voice to change a world. God used the lone voice of Jonah to send a great revival to Nineveh. If you are the lone voice, never forget that God is powerful enough to take your lone voice to magnify it to your world to make a difference for right.

Fourth, focus on helping the people who want your help. Don't get focused on those who don't want your help because that will lead to discouragement. There were people whose lives were changed by the preaching of John the Baptist, and there are people whose lives are being changed by you doing right. If you stay focused on helping those who want your help, you will make a difference in your world because making a difference happens one soul at a time.