Have you ever experienced a moment that completely changed your outlook? I have had several conversations over the course of my life and career that for me, were formative, but for the person on the other side were inconsequential. Some of those conversations have led to negative change or serious hurt but more have become landmark moments in my life that have helped me discover some hidden treasure deep within myself. 

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At one point in my career, I was working full time at Starbucks and part time in the church. My role at the church was to create video content for our student ministry program. It was fun but I kind of knew that it wasn’t what I should be doing with my life long term. At some point I was approached by a ministry leader from another campus who asked if I would be interested in becoming the worship director their student ministry program. After a few conversations I took the role. For the first few weeks, things were going pretty well, and I was enjoying it. 

One day while discussing future plans with my boss I was a little down on myself and the lack of enthusiasm we were seeing in the worship times. I made some comment about there being better musicians and singers that he could have hired. In response, he said something that stuck with me to this day. He said, “I didn’t hire you because you are the best musician in the world. I hired you because you are a cultural architect and I need you to help me build the kind of worship culture that will help students encounter Jesus.” 

My outlook changed that day. I began to see myself and my role on the team very differently. It wasn’t about being the most skilled or the most creative. It was about inviting students to encounter the presence of Jesus. It wasn’t long before the team started to grow, and students began to engage. That one simple statement helped reengage my heart and get back in the game. 

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There is a story in Matthew 16 where Jesus does this for a guy named Simon. Simon had been following Jesus for a while and after an awkward conversation with some religious officials Jesus asks Simon what the public opinion of Him is. Simon responds with a few safe answers that people had given for Jesus’ identity. As a follow up question Jesus turns the question on Simon and says but “who do you say I am?” Simon’s response is that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus’ response changes Simon’s future. Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” 

In a single moment, Jesus changes Simon’s name, his identity, and his future. Peter would go on to plant churches, do miracles, and write part of the Bible. A simple fisherman became a founding father of the Christian faith in a moment.

At any given time, we’re only a moment, a word, or an encouragement away from changing someone’s future. We have regular opportunities to speak life into people and call out what we see in them. At the time Jesus called Peter “the rock on which he would build his church,” Peter had the strength of a pile of dry sand. It would be years after this moment until Peter became that guy. In fact, Peter would act extremely counter to that nickname in some major ways. But Jesus wasn’t concerned with that day. He was speaking the future into existence. When my boss called me a cultural architect that descriptor was inaccurate at best. But it wasn’t about the current body of work, it was about the future potential. Who can you speak life into today? Who can you call greatness out of? Who can you encourage and strengthen with a few simple words. Here’s what I know. You have influence in the life of someone that needs a new identity spoken over them. Use that influence and a few simple words to call out what could be.