How God uses small things to do great work
The Power of Small Beginnings: How God Uses the Seemingly Insignificant
Have you ever felt that your contributions were too small to matter? That your efforts were just a drop in the ocean of life's grand scheme? It's time to reconsider that perspective. The truth is, God loves to use small beginnings to accomplish great works.
Consider the story of the Niagara Gorge Bridge. In 1848, engineers faced a daunting challenge: how to stretch the first line across the wild, raging waters separating the United States and Canada. After failed attempts with boats and even considering the use of cannons, the solution came from an unexpected source - a kite-flying contest.
A 16-year-old boy named Homan Walsh stepped forward with his kite, aptly named "Union." After an initial setback where the string broke, and an eight-day wait due to frozen waters, Homan persevered. On his second attempt, success! That thin kite string became the foundation for a mighty suspension bridge connecting two nations.
This story beautifully illustrates a profound spiritual truth found in Zechariah 4:10: "For who has despised the day of small things?" God often works through what appears weak or insignificant to human eyes. Think about it - Moses had only a staff, David faced Goliath with a sling and stones, and a boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish fed thousands. It's not about the size of our offering; it's about the power of God's purpose behind it.
Luke 16:10 reminds us, "He who is faithful in what is least is also faithful in much." Our God doesn't need us to be impressive; He simply needs us to be willing. That small act of obedience, that tiny step of faith - it might be just enough for God to start a miracle.
But what happens when our first attempts fail? When our strings break, our prayers seem unanswered, or our plans fall apart? The key lies in perseverance. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Faith isn't just what we proclaim when everything works out; it's what we cling to when it doesn't.
Sometimes, God allows delays not to punish us, but to strengthen us. Isaiah 40:31 beautifully captures this: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." In those waiting periods, God is often doing His deepest work in us.
Remember, broken strings can be repaired. If something in your life feels shattered - a dream, a relationship, a hope - know that God isn't finished. He can restore what's broken and use it again. Don't give up; pick up that kite and try again.
God's heart is for unity, for bridging divides. Just as that kite string eventually connected two countries, we are called to be bridge builders in our world. Ephesians 2:14 tells us that Jesus Himself "is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation." On the cross, Jesus stretched out His arms, building the greatest bridge ever made - between humanity and God.
As followers of Christ, we carry this ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Unity often starts small - one conversation, one prayer, one humble step. It's about approaching others with love, not judgment. When we truly love people, it opens doors that argument and condemnation never could.
Vision is crucial in this journey of faith. It's about seeing the bridge before it's built. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." You might only see the gorge, the problem, the distance right now - but God sees the completed bridge. Our role is to trust the Bridge Builder, even when we can't see the full plan.
So how do we apply these truths to our lives?
1. Offer your strength to God: It might feel small, but God can use what's in your hand.
2. Don't give up when things break: Pick it back up, fly again, believe again.
3. Be a bridge builder: Make that phone call, offer that prayer, forgive that person. Let God use your obedience.
4. Keep your eyes on what God can build: Stop staring at the gorge and start trusting the God who builds the bridge.
Imagine standing at the edge of a roaring gorge, wind whipping your face, holding nothing more than a string - but daring to believe it can reach the other side. That's what faith looks like. That's what obedience looks like. That's what God loves to use.
You may feel like all you've got is a thin string, but in God's hands, it's enough to build a bridge. Philippians 1:6 assures us, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Don't despise small beginnings. Whether it's a ministry that starts with just two or three people, or a personal act of kindness that seems insignificant - keep holding your string, keep flying your kite.
What starts small today can become a bridge for a generation tomorrow. Like those glow-in-the-dark crosses made to remind children they carry Christ's light within them, we too are called to shine. We are meant to live as though Jesus is inside us, being bridge builders in a world full of divides.
So the next time you feel your contribution is too small to matter, remember the kite that built a bridge. Remember that our God specializes in using the seemingly insignificant to accomplish the extraordinary. Your small act of faith, your tiny seed of obedience - it matters more than you know. Keep flying your kite, keep holding your string, and watch in awe as God builds bridges through you.
Have you ever felt that your contributions were too small to matter? That your efforts were just a drop in the ocean of life's grand scheme? It's time to reconsider that perspective. The truth is, God loves to use small beginnings to accomplish great works.
Consider the story of the Niagara Gorge Bridge. In 1848, engineers faced a daunting challenge: how to stretch the first line across the wild, raging waters separating the United States and Canada. After failed attempts with boats and even considering the use of cannons, the solution came from an unexpected source - a kite-flying contest.
A 16-year-old boy named Homan Walsh stepped forward with his kite, aptly named "Union." After an initial setback where the string broke, and an eight-day wait due to frozen waters, Homan persevered. On his second attempt, success! That thin kite string became the foundation for a mighty suspension bridge connecting two nations.
This story beautifully illustrates a profound spiritual truth found in Zechariah 4:10: "For who has despised the day of small things?" God often works through what appears weak or insignificant to human eyes. Think about it - Moses had only a staff, David faced Goliath with a sling and stones, and a boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish fed thousands. It's not about the size of our offering; it's about the power of God's purpose behind it.
Luke 16:10 reminds us, "He who is faithful in what is least is also faithful in much." Our God doesn't need us to be impressive; He simply needs us to be willing. That small act of obedience, that tiny step of faith - it might be just enough for God to start a miracle.
But what happens when our first attempts fail? When our strings break, our prayers seem unanswered, or our plans fall apart? The key lies in perseverance. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Faith isn't just what we proclaim when everything works out; it's what we cling to when it doesn't.
Sometimes, God allows delays not to punish us, but to strengthen us. Isaiah 40:31 beautifully captures this: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." In those waiting periods, God is often doing His deepest work in us.
Remember, broken strings can be repaired. If something in your life feels shattered - a dream, a relationship, a hope - know that God isn't finished. He can restore what's broken and use it again. Don't give up; pick up that kite and try again.
God's heart is for unity, for bridging divides. Just as that kite string eventually connected two countries, we are called to be bridge builders in our world. Ephesians 2:14 tells us that Jesus Himself "is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation." On the cross, Jesus stretched out His arms, building the greatest bridge ever made - between humanity and God.
As followers of Christ, we carry this ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Unity often starts small - one conversation, one prayer, one humble step. It's about approaching others with love, not judgment. When we truly love people, it opens doors that argument and condemnation never could.
Vision is crucial in this journey of faith. It's about seeing the bridge before it's built. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." You might only see the gorge, the problem, the distance right now - but God sees the completed bridge. Our role is to trust the Bridge Builder, even when we can't see the full plan.
So how do we apply these truths to our lives?
1. Offer your strength to God: It might feel small, but God can use what's in your hand.
2. Don't give up when things break: Pick it back up, fly again, believe again.
3. Be a bridge builder: Make that phone call, offer that prayer, forgive that person. Let God use your obedience.
4. Keep your eyes on what God can build: Stop staring at the gorge and start trusting the God who builds the bridge.
Imagine standing at the edge of a roaring gorge, wind whipping your face, holding nothing more than a string - but daring to believe it can reach the other side. That's what faith looks like. That's what obedience looks like. That's what God loves to use.
You may feel like all you've got is a thin string, but in God's hands, it's enough to build a bridge. Philippians 1:6 assures us, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Don't despise small beginnings. Whether it's a ministry that starts with just two or three people, or a personal act of kindness that seems insignificant - keep holding your string, keep flying your kite.
What starts small today can become a bridge for a generation tomorrow. Like those glow-in-the-dark crosses made to remind children they carry Christ's light within them, we too are called to shine. We are meant to live as though Jesus is inside us, being bridge builders in a world full of divides.
So the next time you feel your contribution is too small to matter, remember the kite that built a bridge. Remember that our God specializes in using the seemingly insignificant to accomplish the extraordinary. Your small act of faith, your tiny seed of obedience - it matters more than you know. Keep flying your kite, keep holding your string, and watch in awe as God builds bridges through you.
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