The Power of a Mentor

In the late 1700s, a young, well-educated British Parliament member named William Wilberforce was at a crossroads.

He was deeply disturbed by the inhumanity of the transatlantic slave trade, and at the same time, he was wrestling with matters of faith. He wasn’t sure how—or if—his faith and his political calling could go together.

That’s when he went to visit a man named John Newton. Newton had once been a slave-ship captain himself… but after encountering Jesus, he turned from that life, became a pastor, and eventually wrote the hymn Amazing Grace.

Now, Wilberforce stood in Newton’s study—uncertain about what God was asking of him, unsure whether to stay in politics or leave it altogether.

And then—John Newton gave him an answer that would shape history.

Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I’m Bart Leger. Today’s episode is about the quiet power of mentorship—and how God might be calling you to find a mentor… or become one.

Newton looked at the young man and told him plainly: “Serve God where you are.”

He prayed with Wilberforce, encouraged him, and committed to walk with him in faith. That conversation—between an aging pastor and a searching young leader—sparked Wilberforce’s lifelong mission to end the slave trade in Britain.

It would take him decades. He faced fierce opposition. But he never quit. And the law that abolished the slave trade passed in Parliament… just months before John Newton died.

Mentorship doesn’t always make headlines. But it can shape history.

Psalm 1:1–3 (NLT) says:

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked… but they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

I love the image in Psalm 1 of a tree planted by water—stable, rooted, bearing fruit year after year. But let’s be honest: none of us become that tree in isolation.

We all need someone to help us grow.

I think back to my own journey and the handful of people God placed in my life at just the right time. People who challenged me. Prayed for me. Spoke hard truth when I needed it.

And now, in this season, God’s been nudging me to pass it on—to be that person for someone else.

Maybe that’s where you are too.

Maybe you’re a young Wilberforce, and you need to go find your John Newton. Or maybe you are Newton—and God’s nudging you to invite someone younger into your life. Not because you have all the answers, but because you’ve been through enough to say, “Let’s walk this road together.”

So here’s today’s question: Who’s planting into you? And who are you helping to plant?

Mentorship doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be faithful.

“Father, thank You for the people You’ve used to guide and grow us. Help us not just to admire their faith, but to pass it on. Show us who we need to reach out to—whether to receive or to give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Would you like me to pray for you? If so, click on Send me a text in the show notes, or send me a voicemail at www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemail. I promise I’ll pray for you and keep it confidential.

Thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. Remember—your influence matters more than you know. Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God’s truth. Till then, God bless, and have a great day.