God of the Small

I’ve had some major things happening the last few weeks. (My last post sums it up.) I am feeling better after a doctor visit and antibiotics just in time for hormones and fatigue to take main stage. I have to be gone from home most nights of the week and it is wearing on me. The tumultuous family situation continues to tumult. I have mostly reacted to the daunting situation by putting on my A game. Facing a mountain? Pour on the prayer. Need understanding? Dig deeper into scripture. Looking at the impossible? Plant that mustard seed.

But God keeps whispering to me. I am the God of the small. Wow, He’s got me on that one. This tumbled around in my mind last week and God immediately put me to the test. My daughter called in a pickle which would not have happened if she would have done what I asked the night before. As I drove to school to pick her up, anger festered. God spoke more clearly. I am the God of the small. In the short drive, I threw up a help me prayer and managed stifle sharp words about her unwillingness to obey me. I squeaked by that time.

But since then? I have to fess up. Not so good. Sure I’m still pontificating about the majors in my life, but I’m not measuring up in the minors. So many things are falling on the wrong side of the balance. How can God be my God when He isn’t God of my ALL? When He isn’t God of the small.

Show me, God I prayed. I got a bigger answer than I wanted to my “small” problem.

So I ask you to follow my example and do as I do. 1 Chor 4:16

It shocks me every time I read Paul’s words to the church at Corinth. He even tells them twice.

I am so glad dear friends that you always keep me in your thoughts and you are following the Christian teaching I passed on to you. 1 Chor 11:1

He says it again to the Philippians!

Dear brothers and sisters pattern your lives after mine and learn from those who follow our example. Phil 3:17

Paul spent a year and a half living with the Corinthians and building the church. Didn’t he ever have a bad day? Surely, there were some times he would liked to have had a do-over, or maybe he had an occasional slip of the tongue. I can’t imagine having that kind of confidence in my behavior to suggest, “Do what I do”. My daughter learns and models much of my good, but also many of the little not so good things I have tried not to teach. My actions are speaking louder in their silence than all my words.

Lord, help me surrender more each day and gain your strength. Thank you for helping me face those mountains. But when the little things that can trip me up come along, let me recognize them first and follow Your example. Change even my smallest actions into grace filled offerings. I want You to be the God of the small.