It Doesn’t Have to Be Massive When You Start

Regardless of what you may have heard, you don’t have to follow the mantra of “Go Big or Go Home!” There are times when that is appropriate. However, when it comes to doing things in a manner that reflects how God does things, follow the pattern. It would have been no problem for God to simply create everything that exists all at one time but He didn’t do it that way. God began with a single action. Today, I want to encourage you to remember that you should not despise a small beginning.

It’s interesting to note that in the book of Zechariah, we find the words, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand (Zechariah 4:10).” There is something about a start that brings joy to the heart of God. It’s in the start that potential is tapped into and destiny begins to unfold.

If you take a moment to read the beginning of the fourth chapter, you will see the encounter that Zechariah has with the angel of the Lord. God, through this angel, is attempting to encourage him regarding the rebuilding of the temple. Zechariah does not immediately understand the meaning behind all of the signs and symbols in the vision he’d been shown. The angel gave an interpretation that encouraged him to present the message that would encourage Zerubbabel.

Zerubbabel was among those who had been authorized to rebuild the temple. However, he had become discouraged by the opposition. The prophetic word that Zechariah had received was to let him know that he should not become discouraged by his small beginnings because God would ensure that nothing would hinder him and that he would surely complete the work which he had set out to complete.

When God has already authorized your start, you don’t have to be concerned about whether you come out of the gate with something grand. You can begin with something small and God will bless, increase, prosper, and secure what you have done. God gets joy in seeing the faith that moves you to begin. Some things must happen in phases. There are times when you cannot do everything all at once. When you read the Creation story, in Genesis, you see where it says “God said,” and then it says, “God saw.” This gets repeated over and over until you arrive at the end of the sixth day when God completed the process of setting His creation in order.

Know that as you are starting something, it’s not a matter of how big, fast, perfect, or fancy things are when you start. The thing God focuses on is your faithfulness to start. In Jesus’ account of the ten talents, the master was upset with the man who had one talent because he failed to do anything. Had the servant merely started by placing the talent in the hands of a banker, there would have at least been the beginnings of an increase through interest earned.

People make fun of the old joke about how do you eat an elephant: one bite at a time. As impractical as that might seem, that is the essence of how you tackle any endeavor. The saying, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” happens to be another one of those things that put things in perspective. Taking that first step is in itself a massive thing. You’re not committing to do the big thing of walking a thousand miles automatically. That happens in the process of time. Over time, you find that you’ve gone a certain distance and you can look back to see that you’re no longer where you began and you’re closer to the goal than you were when you started.

I pray that whatever you have felt led to do, take courage that you can start small and make a major impact one move at a time. Give God the joy of seeing you starting in faith, where you are, with what you have. Remember, it’s not by power, nor by might, but by His Spirit that you will accomplish the thing that you’re endeavoring to engage in. So do not fear your start because God is eagerly anticipating that once you do, He can ensure you until the day of its completion.