Small Things

“Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.””‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭‬‬

I tend to take notice when things catch my attention more than once in a short period of time. This scripture and the quote “For who has despised the day of small things?” was part of my daily devotional today. It also dropped in my spirit as I walked my dog this afternoon and was listening to a book The Autopsy of the Church by Thom S. Rainer. The scripture didn’t come from the book, but rather in relation to what came up within me as I listened with conviction.

This idea is repeated in parables by Jesus.

““He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬ ‬

And

“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬ ‭‬‬

And

“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭‬‬

I realize I have a tendency to want to “Go big or go home.” when I have an idea that I feel was God inspired. There are a few things that I have felt like I need to do, but after the newness of planning wears off I tend to drag my feet. I want it to be bigger than I have the capacity for in the moment, whether it be due to time, space, or resources. I put it off and get side tracked with life. Then the idea goes no where, despite the yearning in my soul. While I can blame it on the ADHD, it won’t change the results when I stand before the Lord and give account for what He placed inside of me and the plans He had for me.

One would think I learned the lesson before, and I did; sometimes though, I feel like I have to learn lessons repeatedly. Twice now that I can easily recall, God gave me an idea of something, actually the same thing twice. He also showed me that although it didn’t look like I expected, it was exactly what He was doing in and through me. He showed me it was happening, despite it not being on the scale I had envisioned. While it still occurs, I feel like since moving the scale has shrunk even more.

I have allowed myself to get paralyzed by the small beginnings. I have stopped being faithful in the little and still expect that God would trust me with more. I have to use what He is already placed within me for His glory if I expect Him to use me in the more. I have to step out, even afraid of failing or being the only one who shows up. I need to know that the results of what God has called me to are in His hands. He has asked me to be faithful and obedient to what He called me to do.

I can’t despise where I am now; it is so much farther than I ever thought I would be. I know where He brought me from and He is faithful in the small and the big. He has blessed me with the answers to prayers at the time I felt were impossible requests and certainly more than I deserve. But, He has also multiplied everything I have given Him, even when that wasn’t what I asked for from Him.

So if I can declare He has been faithful in the big and small that I have asked for, can I also trust that He will be faithful in what He has asked of me? If I can declare that He has multiplied what I have entrusted to Him, can I also trust Him to multiply what He has entrusted to me? Can I walk out this lesson and not allow it to be something I write about and don’t act on, that He will have to bring around again in the future when I reach a deeper level of discontentment knowing He has called me to more? Can I trust Him with the small things knowing He can do all things?

I think I can.