There is a children’s book tucked away in the back of my car that my little girl loves. Beautiful photos of animals, plants, all of God’s creation illustrated to go along with the well-known poem:
All things bright & beautiful
All creatures great & small
All things wise & wonderful
Our Lord God made them all
~ Cecil Frances Alexander
There is something about small that our culture tells us is insignificant. We crave big moments, larger than life experiences, fancy titles, the bigger, the better. I listen to the Olympic coverage and hear commentators specifically point out how astounded they are when someone who seems like the underdog – shorter, smaller, younger – takes center stage and performs magnificently.
I can get caught in that cycle, too. Thinking the only things that matter are the big things and I lean toward giving up.
- Not a lot of pageviews? Might as well give up – platform is what publishers want, so they won’t want me
- No hugely viral posts? That’s what conferences look for when choosing speakers, so I’ll never make the cut
- Haven’t won the lottery? It would be better to donate a huge amount & make a big impact than send $5, so I guess I’ll sit this one out
- Toddler hasn’t mastered XYZ? Probably means I’m an awful mom and I can’t imagine who would want to hear my story
It’s how our minds work, isn’t it? We put the expectations of the world on our shoulders and feel like failures when we live in the smallness of our ordinary days, and we forget that God created ALL things – bright, beautiful, big, small, wise, wonderful, and everything in between. And most importantly? On that day that He created the world, He said it was good. But on the day that He created man – He said it was VERY good. Our daily failures and lack to live up to the standards of the world do not make us insignificant.
Small and ordinary do not make us worthless.
They make us part of God’s beautifully designed planned. And in those moments where we feel small, we can lean into a God who is bigger than the universe and rest in the comfort that He knows our name. We are never too small to sneak past God’s love. And when we embrace the very ordinary parts of our humanity and the entirely extraordinary parts of God, we can become children of God who do great things, because we trust in a great God.
Our smallness does not count us out of God’s great plan for our lives. He has a purpose for you – so let’s not give up. Instead, let’s do our part, however small, however brave, and listen as the world’s commentators stand in awe at the power of the children of God doing great, unimaginable things for the Kingdom. One small step at a time.
I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and the beautifully brave writers of Five Minute Friday – would love for you to join us! Today’s writing prompt is: Small.
This goes so well with what we talked about today. I just love it! And I love you <3
Love this Crystal! Doing the Priscilla Shirer study on Gideon. And was today reminded that God’s blessings and provisions are sprinkled in the small, in the mundane.
Zechariah 4:10
New Living Translation (NLT)
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.
There is only one measuring stick we should use, Christ Himself. However at times that is easier said than done. I pray that we keep reminding ourselves as well as one another that we are significant to all those He has called us to serve. Nn matter if it is one or 1000’s
I’d rather serve one and do exactly what God has called me to than serve thousands and do what the world asks 😉
Beautiful post friend!!
{{hugs}} love seeing your beautiful smile around here!
He has never nor will He ever be a God that plays it small.
Oh yes… I love the truth of this!
It does kind of make you do a happy dance, doesn’t it?
Quite beautifully said, Crystal! AMEN!
Thanks Kimberly 🙂
Crystal, this is an answer to pray for me this morning. I am speaking to a women’s retreat in March and I have been struggling to hear exactly what God wanted as the main point. Your blog post today is God’s answer to my prayer. “small and ordinary do not make us worthless” I am speaking on, You are the salt of the earth. Thank you, sister!
Oooh go forth & conquer girl! I can’t wait to hear all about that talk and will be praying over every word. You are a light, my friend. Those women will be blessed 🙂
Your words resound with me! Goodness, comparison can be the downfall of us all, right? But if only we can stop comparing, we can see how beautiful God’s plan for us is! Thanks for the uplifting words!
It’s a beautiful plan He has for you, and one specifically designed for just your talents and passions – I love that we have a God who is so amazingly creative He can never run out of new, unique plans & paths for each of us 🙂
Having just buried my precious, funny Dad this week, I can emphatically say that it’s the small moments that do indeed make a life of significance. I appreciate your writing, Crystal.
Deb Weaver
Oh Deb 🙁 I’m so sorry to hear that – big {{hugs}}
I love this quote by Everett Edward Hale. It says, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.” I am only one, but I am one. I am one. You are one. Every beautiful woman who dares to share five minutes of her heart is one. I will never underestimate the power of one. I am no mega Christian.. not by a long shot. I am one small human who intends to “use my energies constructively, as opposed to destructively.” Worth a listen if you have time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePodNjrVSsk
Roni, I LOVE THIS!! I’m sharing it!
So glad, Diane!:)
Ooh that’s good 🙂
Words meant for my heart, sister. Bless you.
You are the blessing – so nice getting to know you in this space!
Stopping by from FMF.
Thank you.
So glad you stopped by Kelly!
I love this reminder that He SEES us! Even, and especially in our smallness.
I’d rather be small & seen by God than feel “big” and not think I need Him 🙂
Amen, Crystal 🙂 and I love your line in your post about not being able to sneak past God’s love 🙂
I pray that we stop measuring ourselves against the world, and find our truest worth in the magnitude of His love for us, not as a collective people, but as individuals. We are not one of many, we are each His treasured possessions. Love you, friend. XO
It’s that little bit of artist in us that loves that glimpse of indescribable, unending creativity that God uses when He forms us and set us on a path for His glory 🙂 Endlessly unique.