by Michelle Welch
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
I guess that my little anole that visits me every so often was a she instead of a he. There are a multitude of little anole’s all over the backyard. As I sat with my Abba in the quiet of my backyard, a tiny version of her mother came to sit on my Bible. She was very determined to find out just what or who I was. She ran all over my books, my basket, and ultimately me! I tried to keep her out of my hair but she was persistent. I don’t have pictures of her climbing all over my shirt and into my hair but trust me when I say it took a lot of deep breathing to keep from flinging her across the yard. Finally I carried her over to the ivy that grows around the pond so that she wouldn’t be a tasty treat for the blue jays that live in the tree beside my chair. I have seen her running up and down the pipes around the pond, playing hide and seek with her brothers and sisters. She will still run up my hand when I come near. I don’t know why she trusts me so but I know that she makes me smile and that’s all that matters most days.
As I watched this tiny guest explore her enormous world, I wondered if I would be so brave. I am often so concerned with my present troubles that I let too many blessings pass me by. I make excuses as to why I have to stay in my little bubble, missing Bible study, watching church on the computer, giving up the chance to have dinner with friends. I let my troubles overwhelm my reality when in truth my troubles are actually pretty small. Too often I let my small trouble be the excuse I need to not put myself out of my comfort zone.
I am determined to learn from my little guest. I am just a tiny part of a bigger plan. I need to get out and explore the world that God so graciously placed me in. I won’t be able to do much exploring sitting in the backyard, no matter how enticing that sounds. In my exploration I am sure to face more trouble, whether my own or someone else’s. I can’t let my fear of trouble keep me from being where God wants and needs me to be.
God is so awesome, so powerful, and so constant. He has promised me that from my troubles will come blessings. He stands by His promise. While there is a famous quote somewhere that says “Don’t tell your God how big your mountain is, tell your mountain how big your God is”, I need also to remember that nothing is too small for my God to care about. Nothing is too small to take before Him. He is the Lord of all things both great and small. Including my tiny little guest!
Dearest Father God, thank You for the beauty that is all around me, both great and small. Thank You for showing me that I need to get out and make a difference in the world around me. You are so merciful and gracious to allow me to take part in Your grand and glorious plan. I am humbled by Your Love for me. Show me where to go so that I can do more for Your Kingdom here on earth. In Christ’s name I pray,
Amen.
Copyright © 2013, Michelle Welch, Breath of Life Women’s Ministries.
Originally published as All Things Great And Small, 9/15/2011
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
Photography by Michelle Welch, all rights reserved.
