Day 23 — Small Beginnings

“For who has despised the day of small things?”

— Zechariah 4:10 (BSB)

When God’s people came home to Jerusalem after many years in exile, they started rebuilding the temple. But it was small and simple compared to the glorious temple Solomon had built long before. Some of the older people who remembered the first temple actually cried, because the new one seemed so small.

But God sent a message through the prophet Zechariah: “Who has despised the day of small things?” In other words, Don’t look down on small beginnings! I can do great things with them.

Almost everything great starts small. A mighty oak tree starts as a tiny acorn. A famous author starts by writing short stories as a kid. A great doctor starts by learning to put on a bandage. Most people who changed the world started by doing small things faithfully for a long time.

You might feel like what you’re doing now is small. You’re a kid. You go to school, do chores, help out at church and hang out with friends. It might not feel like you’re doing anything important for God.

But small things matter to God.

• Being kind to one lonely girl is a small thing. But it might change her life.
• Practicing piano every day is a small thing. But it might become a gift you use for God for years.
• Reading one chapter of the Bible is a small thing. But day after day, it grows deep roots.
• Saving a few coins is a small thing. But, like Gladys Aylward, it might one day take you somewhere amazing.

Don’t wait for some big, dramatic calling. Start where you are, with what you have, doing the small things faithfully. God sees them. And He loves to grow small beginnings into something great.

Think about it: What’s a “small thing” in your life that you might be tempted to despise? How could God use it?

Try this: Choose one small thing you can do faithfully every day this week, like practicing a skill, reading your Bible or being kind to someone. Do it every day.

Dear God, help me not to despise small beginnings. Thank You that You see the small things I do, and that You can grow them into something great. Help me be faithful in little things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.