“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7

A Proper Perspective

A few years ago, we were out fishing; it was a beautiful, clear day and the ocean was calm. We had our poles out and were just leaning back in our seats relaxing, when all the sudden the water around the boat started moving and eight humpback whales surfaced all around us. I would not be completely honest if I didn’t tell you that I was just a little nervous—our fishing boat is not small, but we were dwarfed by these large animals. They gently swam around us, looking at us; we looked at them, and just floated there in awe. After about a half hour the gentle giants swam away and were back off on their journey. I have known that the area where we fish is a migration ground for the whales journeying from Alaska to the Hawaiian Islands, and over the years I have spotted a few in the far distance, but this encounter was truly a gift from God.

There are a few times in my life that God has shown me just how small I am. That is not a bad thing—on the contrary, it gives me a sense of awe that even though I am small, I am made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Throughout history God has called His people to courageously stand for Him. I think of David taking on Goliath: Goliath may have been huge, but David had God. Today we have been chosen by grace to carry on the work of Christ in our time.

Jesus tells us the parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-32. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

We may be a small group in our community, our nation, or the world, but as Christians we have the Holy Spirit of the living God dwelling in us. We may be small, but can be mighty in His kingdom. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are small or insignificant, or that your efforts will not matter, because with God we can have a huge impact wherever or however we serve Him. That big impact you have may be as simple as pointing one person to Jesus, and that one goes on to do great things that you just might never know about.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me the proper perspective that even though I am small in this world, You are big and You give me the courage to face the big things in this world and to bring You glory through my faith and service to You, someday receiving my reward in heaven.