Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes that Inspire and Challenge Us Today

Martin Luther King Jr. Day happens every year in America in January. He was a Baptism minister who became a Civil Rights Leader in the 1950s and 60s until his assassination in 1968. While Martin Luther King Jr. is no longer with us, his words still live on and impact us to this day.

Here are a list of quotes that he said that continue to challenge and inspire us today.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Keep moving forward. No matter what our situation is, we can always take next steps or make progress to our goals we want to accomplish. There may be roadblocks in the way, but you can always take steps. Some days you may be running, other days crawling. As long as you keep moving forward you will get there.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

It’s easy to do what’s right and good when things are comfortable and convenient. But what do you do in the midst of uncertainty and controversy? How do you respond then? It’s a challenge for us all.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question, ‘What are you doing for others?'”

We live in a self-centered world always looking out for ourselves. Martin Luther King Jr. takes from the teachings of Jesus that we should love and care for others. In John 13 and Mark 10:45 Jesus showed us a true example of service that we should all duplicate in one way or another.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Not everyone is passionate about the same things, but we are all passionate about something. On those issues that matter to you do you speak up or are you silent? Choose to respectfully speak up and stand up for the matters that are important to you so you can make a difference, not only in your life, but in the lives of others.

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

This speaks for itself. Do what is right all the time. Are you wondering what the right thing to do at certain times? Ask Jesus for help. He will guide you and lead you to do what is right.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”   

When injustice happens one might think that it is a shame that something bad happened, but they don’t usually consider the possibility that it could happen to them. What Martin Luther King Jr. is saying here is that while they may not seem to directly impact us, it could ultimately impact us in some way down the road. That is why we should stand for what is right for all people.

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Things will not always go your way. You will be disappointed and that’s ok. The key is to not lose hope. In Jesus we have so much hope. And while things will not always be amazing and perfect, we can find hope in Christ. Choose to trust in the hope of Jesus and see where he leads you.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

This world, as it is, is a very dark place. And, at times, it only seems to be getting darker. The only thing that can help make a difference is Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world and calls us to love others. It is through His love that we can drive out hate and despair and usher in a new era in this world. Demonstrate the love of Jesus today to others around you and se the difference it can make in others.

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude.”

Forgiving others can be so hard. But it can be done. It’s a constant and consistent attitude we must take, no matter how hard it may be. Peter once asked Jesus how many times we need to forgive others, Jesus said “seventy-seven times” meaning we need to forgive someone completely. Martin Luther King Jr. is encouraging us to embody this type of forgiveness that Christ calls us to.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Sometimes when we take a step of faith we expect the end result to be right there. However, the first step is only just a step. We may not see where it leads us at first, but that is where faith comes into play. We have to trust God that every step of faith we take will lead us closer to Jesus and closer to where we need to be.

These are just some of the quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. that inspire and challenge us to this day. What do you think? Share your favorite below or on social media using #ymsidekick when you share.

Also, if you are interested in being a Digital Missionary or if you want to learn digital tools to expand your reach in ministry this year, check out the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group!