Nonetheless is defined as: nevertheless, however, or despite anything to the contrary.

A rather innocuous word, even if necessary depending on the context of what’s being communicated.

I saw a video in church today about a missionary doctor, and how God chose him to literally save lives in poverty-stricken areas of Africa. The overall message of the video was how God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called.

I couldn’t help but wonder at what God is calling me to do, and I admit feeling a bit envious—that whatever it is, I’m not saving literal lives. Heck, I don’t know if anything I do has any effect to God’s kingdom, positive or negative.

Then the word “nonetheless” popped into my head, but with a few extra spaces: none the less.

God does not have a hierarchy of endowments or gifts. As 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 states: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (ESV)

The gifts God gives us is for two purposes: to glorify God and to bring others to him.

Not one is considered less important than another. My gifts may not wow anyone, and I may never know what impact they might have. Perhaps it’s better that way considering I tend to be prideful. Should I know the extent of my influence, I may try to grab that glory for myself instead of pointing to God.

Because God is the one who gives us those gifts in the first place. We can do nothing without him (John 15:5).

Nonetheless. None the less. I doubt I’ll ever see that word in the same way again.