Start Small, End Big

“Who [with reason] despises the day of small things.” Zechariah 4:10 Amplified Bible

“Whatever God provides is enough for a successful beginning and a spectacular finish.”

My thoughts today are about “start small, end big.”

Lives are spent and irreplaceable time is wasted trying to gather and/or store up enough to make a great start; but is that ever possible, really? If you wait until you have everything you could possibly need to do what you plan to do, you probably will be left with too little time to do it. And if you never begin, one thing is for certain, you will never finish.

Whenever you are called of God, whatever God provides you is always enough for a successful beginning. Sometimes you may think you need something more of what you have or something other than what you have, but what you have is exactly what you need for your obedience to begin. Willingness is a good beginning. God says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 NLT. The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who found that what seemed so insignificant when they began became sufficient when they included God.

Needing more than you have? When Moses worried about going to Pharaoh on Israel’s behalf, he could recite multiple reasons why he couldn’t do what God was asking. He recounted everything he lacked until God asked, “What is that in your hand? Throw it down!” Exodus 4:2 NIV. Nothing much, except a shepherd’s staff. God always starts with what you do have, not what you don’t. Obedience and release makes ordinary things extraordinary in God’s hand.

That’s where God begins; such a small beginning, but one not to be despised. Moses could hardly believe what God did with a simple, ordinary staff. If you read the story, that is never again called “the staff of Moses.” From the time he chose to obey God, the Bible says, “And he took the staff of God in his hand.” Exodus 4:19 NIV. That staff parted a sea and released water from a rock. The key is trusting what you have into God’s hands fully, the same for you as for Moses. What he had was more than enough when Moses began to obey. In the story of Moses leadership, “the staff of God” was always in his hand! God is always sufficient; we are not. Read 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 NLT.

Needing faith to believe God for a big thing? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen . . for without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to Him must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:1/6 NKJV. Begin with the faith God has given to you, “for God has given to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3 NIV. How much faith do you need? You have the faith you need if you use the faith you have. Jesus said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed . . nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 NIV.

Needing more resource than you have? You should see what Jesus can do with “five barley loaves and two small fish!” Read John 6:1-13 NKJV. Philip counted what they needed and pronounced it “not sufficient.” Andrew brought a boy with his small lunch, but decided, “What are they among so many?” Jesus began with what they thought was too small and multiplied it until they had too much. The little you have is a sign of bigger and better things to come!

My prayer for you today is that you place all you are and all you have in God’s hands.