A Little Beginning - A Little Goes a Long Way

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zechariah 4:10, NLT)

I was born and raised in a small rural town. After going away to college and getting married, I returned to my hometown. I briefly worked outside the home until we had our children, at which point I decided to stay home with them full time. My days revolved around diapers, bottles, and Cheerios. Even though I knew in my heart it was important work, some days it didn’t feel that way.

Both of my children are in school now, so most days I’m alone as I attend to my daily responsibilities, accompanied only by my animals. When my husband comes home from work and asks how my day was, I list all of the things I accomplished: today I read my Bible, made the beds, walked the dogs, wrote a devotion, recorded a podcast, went to the grocery store, paid bills, cooked dinner, washed dishes and clothes, helped with homework, took the kids to their games, etc.

When he asks, he isn’t necessarily asking what I’ve done, rather simply wondering how I am. Even knowing this, I still want the assurance I’m doing a good job. That I am significant.

The thing is, this is a daily occurrence. I lay my head down at night reflecting on what I’ve accomplished, and I wake up to my alarm and start again, back to what I perceive to be square one. Each day I have a choice. Will I begin again regardless of how small my work seems in the grand scheme of things, trusting God is growing me and using it all? Or, will I grow discouraged and be lulled to sleep by the monotony, believing it is all unimpactful and pointless?

This is your choice too. While your to-do list may look different from mine, I have a feeling our hearts are similar. We want our lives to count, but we feel minuscule, like our ordinary everyday moments will never amount to anything. We take stock of the families we were born into, the towns we grew up in, and the positions we serve in, then determine they are of little value. If we aren’t careful, we can start to believe that who we are, where we are, and what we are doing doesn’t really matter.

A remnant of Jews who had returned to Judah to rebuild the temple and their nation had similar thoughts. Many of the older Jews were disheartened when they realized this new temple would not match the size and splendor of the previous temple built during King Solomon’s reign.

But a minor prophet (not a major prophet, ironically) named Zechariah gave the people encouragement from God by saying, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin” (4:10, NLT). The NIV translation says, “Who dares despise the day of small things.” Zechariah was trying to communicate to them that bigger and more beautiful isn’t always better. The presence of God on the inside of the temple was what made it significant.

Zechariah’s fellow minor prophet Haggai says it this way, “How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?” (Haggai 2:3, NIV) So often, who we are and what we are doing feels like nothing. But friend, because God is on the inside of us, we too are significant.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to make peace with the little I am and the little I have. May I remember I am small compared to you and it is your spirit that breathes life into anything I do. Lord, assure me that you rejoice when I begin. Give me the courage to begin and to celebrate the person I am and the location you have placed me. When I am tempted to quit, help me persevere. Remind me that although I start at the beginning, you have a beautiful ending in store. Amen.

What is God asking you to begin or begin again?