Small Beginnings

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I am sure, like me, you’ve had times in your life when things look like they are going to get difficult . Times when you look at the future and you become concerned. You look ahead with confusion and distress and don’t know where to start to make improve things. The way ahead looks hard, there are obstacles to navigate, and plenty to pray about as you are coming into a season of being stretched.
It doesn’t really matter what the circumstances are, it could be; a work situation, a family issue, financial difficulties, illness or a whole multitude of other things. The fact remains though that you are contemplating the impact of whatever it is on your life, and you’re not sure what you can do to navigate this season well, you don’t know how to get the answers or solutions you need or maybe even the resources.

What do you do then?

When your life looks uncertain and you are worried, what do you do? These times certainly test our faith!

As a family, we have had a lot of change recently, there have been a lot of things that have happened. Some we have been in control of, others we haven’t, some have been expected, some events came out of the blue. A lot has occurred for our circumstances to change even in the last month.
A few of these circumstances caught my attention because of the long-term implications and the insurmountable solutions required. Looking at the future concerned me, and made me feel sad. I could not see how things could improve - So, what can I do?

The only thing I could - pray

When I say I pray, I admit that I haven’t spent hours in prayer, but I have let God know my worries, my thoughts and feelings, my hopes and ideas. I have spent time telling God what I could see was going on and I have asked Him to intervene. You see, God cares about the big and small worries of my life, and He cares about yours too. He likes us to admit how we are doing and for us to let him know how we are responding to these things. Some of you reading this may not have batted an eyelid to the things that have caused me concern, but that doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter how others perceive our situations because they are not the ones having to deal with it and having to work out their faith in it. We each have our own situations and concerns to manage and walk through in life, and we are responsible for how we handle and respond to the circumstances in our own lives.

So, I prayed. I told God how I was doing, how I had seen others respond, I asked Him how I should react, is there something I need to do God? I have also let God know I am really upset, disappointed, worried, scared, annoyed even. I have prayed for others involved, I pray for wisdom, for His love to be demonstrated. I pray for better to come. I pray and trust that God can and will transform what doesn’t seem good or helpful into something great and I continue to pray.

Do you know, as I have prayed about these situations, I have noticed God working. God has, in small ways, showed me that He is listening. The circumstances are no different, things have not been magically restored or repaired, but I have seen things from a new angle, and I have seen God provide in small ways. Would I have noticed such Godly intervention if I hadn’t been praying I wonder?

The circumstances have not been radically transformed, but I have seen small things that have and will make a huge difference. Some of these blessings may be temporary, but they show the presence, power and protection of God. It reminds me of the following verse;

Zecahriah 4:10; ‘Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin’.

I have seen, ’small beginnings’ of hope entering these situations. It gives me such gratitude that God would take the time to intervene, to show that he is aware of what is going on, that He is present and active even when things seem distressing and difficult. I love how this verse says that God, ‘rejoices to see the work begin’. God likes to bring about new things in our lives. Sometimes that means we will encounter difficult times, but God will show His presence - are you praying and preparing to hear from Him?

When you pray about something do you look out for the ‘small beginnings’? The little incidences that occur that aren’t the full answer, but show that God is on it? How awesome is it that we have a God who cares enough about us to remind us He is there and in charge?! I am grateful that I prayed, if I hadn’t I may of missed the small beginnings of the life changes that are going to follow. I have not seen the full picture yet, I do not know the far-reaching consequences of what is occurring, but God has renewed my confidence and invigorated my faith by stepping in to show He is in these problems.

So, today, if something is bothering you, don’t dismiss praying for it. Nothing is too big or small for God to intervene. It may be too big or small for you, but not for God. Once you’ve prayed, keep praying and be ready for the ‘small beginnings’ that will come. God rejoices in them, you should too. Be assured that God is at work. God will show His presence - are you looking for it?

Thank God for the Little Things

Don’t you just love the way God intervenes in life?!
Sometimes it’s in subtle ways, like prompting you to pray for something or talk to someone, it could be finding a bit of money or some marvel of nature, or even disturbing your sleep.

We can take these things to be small coincidences or even just random occurrences, they are quite easy to explain away. However, like we see in Esther, a series of ‘coincidences’ led to the freedom of many people. It led to recognition and promotion as well as judgement and condemnation. Sometimes the small, unusual details of our lives can be dismissed by us as unusual circumstances. I guess my encouragement to you today, is to not be so quick to write off the unusual. To instead consider - could God be in this?

Reading Esther, Chapters 5-7 we see plenty of these unusual small situations coincide in just one day. These chapters outline the events after Esther’s first banquet, all joined together by little snippets of God’s intervention in subtle ways.

First, Haman’s jealous hatred of Mordecai is kindled yet again and reaches a crescendo as he instructs for a gallows to be built so he can hang him (not for any notable reason either really). Then, the king cannot sleep, so what does he do? He orders for the big book of history to be read to him. It just so happens to be read that Mordecai, years ago, was a hero. Mordecai undermined an assassination plot and received no acclaim for it. This concerned the king, and so he spent more wakeful hours considering how to rectify this oversight. Then Haman is spotted in the grounds, so he seeks his counsel and commands Haman to give the acclaim he described to his mortal enemy Mordecai. Lots is going on there - but can you see the subtle intervention of the Holy Spirit in these circumstances? Can you see that God is involved in every part of that process?

The king was not ill, or disturbed in order to be awake, he just couldn’t sleep - why was that? And why did he decide at that very time to have the history books read and just so happen to come across the tale of Mordecai?! That seems far too many coincidences to me to be by chance and not orchestrated by God! All of these little incidents we read about in Esther clearly outline that whilst people are getting on with their normal lives, God is there, God is at work.

In the same way God is intervening in your life too.

Watch out for the little promptings of the Holy Spirit. Look out for the way God is working, even in the small things. If you are wakeful, ask God why, if you find something that was lost, praise Him for it, if you notice something beautiful and new, thank Gos for creating it. Our lives are full of small details that God has put there for us to take notice of. Even if it’s a broken nights sleep, or a chance meeting with someone. Be aware and be prepared to see God at work. Like in Esther, the small details can come together to cause a massive life change for others. So, be attuned to what God is doing. Have eyes that see the blessings around you, the small moments of joy that God gives you, the little promptings to talk or pray with someone. In the same way that God uses others to be a blessing to us, He also uses you to be a blessing to others, so keep mindful that God wants your attention everyday, and consider what can you do that God wants you to today? God may well be song you to change someone’s life as well as your own. Be prepared to see the subtle things and do the little things God asks. You may end up being the answer to someone else’s prayer.