This is your argument in my mind:
"Let's help this old lady cross the street."
Sees the war in Gaza
"Well that was useless helping the old lady."
?
Maybe smalls acts are not all that's needed, but the impact of spreading love through small acts should not be underestimated. Direct action also does not end wars. It is impossible to affect "the state of the world". I am convinced the small acts matter are a lot more than getting demotivated to do anything because it's all useless in the greater scheme of things. Small acts get shit done and they do add up to contribute to a better world, thinking about the greater scheme and the "state of the world" (whatever that means) does not.