Do Not Despise the Day of Small Things: Embracing the Power of Smallness as

Do Not Despise the Day of Small Things

As Christians, we serve a big God with a big mission that will one day touch every corner of the world. But even though our God is grand and magnificent, he has a remarkable love for the small. He sets his sights on small people in small places during small moments (Psalm 33:18; Matthew 6:4). The Son of God, who “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,” even became small to save us (Philippians 2:6–8).

However, some of us tend to focus on the bigness of God and his mission, and we fail to appreciate his love for the small. When we find ourselves unable to escape the small, we start to feel frustrated and complain. We have grand aspirations, yet we’re stuck in a small job, small church, small town, and a small life.

Perhaps we need to hear again the words of the prophet Zechariah who spoke to a people consumed with the big: do not despise the day of small things.

Big God, Small Day

Zechariah spoke to a people who had returned from exile and found themselves in a world that was not as grand and magnificent as they had hoped. They had come back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, yet their efforts were thwarted by opposition from the surrounding nations. The people were disheartened, and they started to question God’s goodness and his plan for their lives.

It was in this context that the Lord spoke through Zechariah to encourage the people. He reminded them that their God was not a small God, and he had not abandoned them. He was with them, and he was watching over them. And even though their present circumstances were small and insignificant, their God was still in control.

Zechariah used a metaphor to illustrate this point. He said, “Who has despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10). The “day of small things” refers to the time when the foundation of the temple was laid. It was a small beginning, but it was a beginning nonetheless. The people had to start somewhere, and the Lord was pleased with their efforts.

Zechariah’s message was clear: the people should not despise small beginnings. They should not be discouraged by their present circumstances. They should not give up on God’s plan for their lives. Their God was big enough to handle their smallness, and he would see them through to the end.

The Power of Small Things

Zechariah’s message is just as relevant today as it was then. We live in a culture that values bigness and grandeur. We’re often told that we should dream big, think big, and aim high. We’re encouraged to pursue success, wealth, and fame. We’re bombarded with messages that tell us that bigger is better.

But what if we’re missing something? What if there’s power in smallness? What if the small things in life are actually the most important things?

Consider the following examples:

1. The Power of Small Habits

Our lives are made up of small habits. The things we do every day, often without thinking, shape who we are and who we become. Small habits like reading your Bible, praying, exercising, and eating healthy may seem insignificant on their own, but over time, they can have a profound impact on our lives.

As the writer James Clear notes, “It’s not the big things that add up in the end; it’s the hundreds, thousands, or millions of little things that separate the ordinary from the extraordinary.”

2. The Power of Small Acts of Kindness

Small acts of kindness can have a big impact on the world around us. A smile, a kind word, a helping hand, or a simple gesture of generosity can brighten someone’s day and make a difference in their life.

As Mother Teresa once said, “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.”

3. The Power of Small Communities

We often think that big cities, with their bright lights and bustling crowds, are the places where the most important things happen. But there’s power in small communities too. In a small town or a close-knit neighborhood, people know each other’s names, share each other’s burdens, and celebrate each other’s joys.

As the writer Robert Putnam notes, “People may go out less in small places, but when they do go out, they bump into friends and acquaintances, and that’s the essence of social capital.”

God’s Love for the Small

As Christians, we believe that God’s love for the small is not just a matter of preference, but it’s rooted in his very nature. The Bible is filled with stories of God using small people in small places to accomplish big things.

Consider the following examples:

1. David and Goliath

David was the youngest son of Jesse, a simple shepherd boy from the small town of Bethlehem. Yet God chose him to be king of Israel and used him to defeat the giant Goliath. David’s smallness was no obstacle to God’s plan.

As David himself declared, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty” (1 Samuel 17:45).

2. The Widow’s Oil

In 2 Kings 4, we read about a widow whose husband had died and left her with a large debt. She had nothing left except a small jar of oil. But the prophet Elisha told her to gather as many jars as she could find and pour her oil into them. Miraculously, the oil kept flowing until all the jars were full.

God used the small jar of oil to provide for the widow and her family in a time of great need.

3. The Feeding of the 5000

In John 6, we read about Jesus feeding a crowd of 5000 people with just five small loaves of bread and two small fish. The disciples were skeptical, but Jesus multiplied the food and fed everyone.

God used the small amount of food to demonstrate his power and provision.

Embracing the Small

So what does it mean to embrace the small? How can we learn to appreciate the small things in life and see them as valuable and significant?

1. Recognize the Value of Small Things

The first step is to recognize the value of small things. We need to learn to appreciate the small moments, the small gestures, and the small beginnings. We need to see the potential in small things and not despise them because of their size.

2. Trust in God’s Plan

We also need to trust in God’s plan for our lives. We need to believe that even the small things in our lives are part of his grand design. We need to trust that he is working all things together for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28).

3. Find Joy in Small Things

We can also find joy in small things. We can savor the simple pleasures of life, like a cup of coffee, a good book, or a walk in the park. We can enjoy the company of family and friends, and we can appreciate the beauty of nature.

4. Be Faithful in Small Things

Finally, we can be faithful in small things. We can do the small things well, knowing that they are important to God. We can be faithful in our jobs, our relationships, and our daily routines, trusting that God will use our faithfulness for his glory.

Conclusion

As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of life, let us not despise the day of small things. Let us embrace the small and trust in God’s plan for our lives. Let us find joy in small things and be faithful in all that we do. And let us remember that even though we may be small, our God is big enough to handle our smallness and accomplish great things through us.