All the Small Things

Noah and the ark, Moses and the burning bush, Abraham and Isaac, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lions, Shadrach Meshach and Abednego in the furnace... The Bible is full of these big, amazing stories, Old and New Testament alike!

I remember a story a missionary recounted when I was younger, sitting in church one evening. The missionary described a young girl from a foreign country who was demon possessed. He told us about these horrific inhuman screams that would come from the girl at all hours of the night and day. But, God used this missionary and his team to cast out the demon and heal the girl! A real modern day Bible story!

I have heard several more stories over the years, stories that excite me, stories that show just how powerful and glorious our God is! God is amazing and He uses us to do these BIG, amazing things! A privilege for sure.  Along the way though, I realized, I let myself believe the lie that if I wasn’t doing great big things for God then I must not be significant enough. Have you ever struggled with these feelings?

There are some amazing women of God who have set up these beautiful spaces online. I “follow” some of them because they have great big hearts for God and His kingdom and they so encourage me. They have grand influence and beautiful Instagram accounts. These ladies preach fantastic messages that speak right to your soul. Some own/run a business while raising children. These women are saving girls from sex trafficking, housing and teaching single moms and their babies in Kenya, holding 3 day conferences to pour into thousands of women or writing books. They are doing B I G things! I am thankful for their obedience and allowing God to use them. But if I am honest right now, I allow these things to make my life feel small. Have you ever allowed others to make you feel small?

I read these great big Bible stories and look around at all these women writing books and selling beautiful things and tell myself, “Well, I am just a mom.” Or, “I am just a wife, I just lead Bible study, I just have this small home...” And it can make me feel like I’m not doing enough. Have you believed that lie too? That you are “just a”... mom, wife, teacher, barista, etc.

Friends, I’d just like to inspire you today! If you have felt these feelings and thought these thoughts, I want to encourage you with some truth! God sees you. He sees you and He calls you good. He sees all the “small” things, that others don’t always see and He calls them good!

I want to share this passage of scripture with you today. It is one you are likely very familiar with, so I would like to encourage you to read it differently this time. You have probably heard it referred to as “The Proverbs 31 Woman” and I think sometimes our culture can look at this as a “to-do list”. But, today I want you to read it the way it was meant to be read, as a beautiful poem that celebrates all the crazy-hard, beautiful things we do as women.

The Virtuous Wife

Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax,

And willingly works with her hands. 

She is like the merchant ships,

She brings her food from afar. 

She also rises while it is yet night,

And provides food for her household,

And a portion for her maidservants.

She considers a field and buys it;

From her profits she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength,

And strengthens her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is good,

And her lamp does not go out by night. 

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hand holds the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor,

Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of snow for her household,

For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

She makes tapestry for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies sashes for the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (NKJV)

All of these crazy-hard, beautiful things point back to God, you see it near the end, “But a women who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” The virtuous wife, she cares for her family and so do you! She cares for others and so do you! She is careful and diligent about her words, her work and her purpose and so are you!

You see, all these “small” things, they matter to God.

He sees you when you are scrubbing the dishes and folding the laundry.

He sees you rise early for a moment’s peace before the day begins.

He sees you and every meal you prepare and spread out for your family.

He sees you in the late nights, the sleepless nights, the prayerful nights.

He sees you put your needs aside to listen to a friend or co-worker.

He sees you when you serve in the kitchen, in children’s church or for the pregnant momma’s.

He sees all the “small” things and He calls them GOOD! Stop thinking that you aren’t doing enough because you are doing exactly what God is asking of you.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14 (NIV)

All the crazy-hard beautiful things, the waking up each day and pushing through to the end, it is all Kingdom work. It is all important. It is ministry and it is good!

Praise God for all things!

Praise God for the crazy, big, amazing things and encourage 

those parts of the body who have been sent out.

Praise God for the crazy, “small”, amazing things and encourage 

those who have been called to stay.

Praise God for the parts of the body who do both!

You see God cares about it all! If he didn’t care, then we toil in vain. But it is all to His glory! You are doing the good things God has called you to. Right now. Today. So, keep on keepin’ on, friends! God is so good! 

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni