I wrote this post early last year on my personal blog. As we come to another new year and we think about goals and dreams with constant messages that we can and should all conquer the world, I felt compelled to share this here. Especially for the mamas who feel so overwhelmed by everyday mothering tasks that they couldn’t possibly dream of something more. The truth is we can. . .and we should. . .but the goal doesn’t have to be a big life. It can simply be big love.
I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately. I’ve spent the better part of my adult life either serving those in creative ministry or working to build my own. Yet there’s always been a part of me that is resistant to big things. I’ve watched large success and big business change people into versions of themselves they never wanted to become. I’ve seen marriages struggle and families weaken because of “success” and all that comes with it.
And it’s done in the name of Jesus. . .because we’re supposed to go and do and build, in his name. We’re promised an abundant life and abundance means more influence, more money, more importance. Right?!
There are people everywhere longing to make their lives matter. There are blogs and conferences and books that promise to show us how to go after our dreams. We aspire to become the people we admire because their lives are making huge impact and our soul longs to matter that much. Yet those people we are aspiring to be. . .they don’t even want to be what they’ve become. Just a few days ago a very popular and well-respected woman in ministry exposed her heart by sharing that her big life is just.too.much. This woman who is admired by hundreds of thousands of other women {including me} because of her God-given gift of honesty, encouragement and humor. . .she’s begging to slow down and longing to live a normal life again. But we all want to be her because she’s amazing and lives such a glamorous life (to which I’m sure she’d respond with a big “Bwahaha!”)
So what if we’ve got it all wrong?
What if doing that small thing really well, fully present and with our whole heart is the key to making a long-lasting difference?
What if making micro-impact is the way God wants us to create big change?
What if we all dig deep into the soil that surrounds us to cultivate change within our sphere? What if those spheres remained small and well-tended and because they overlap and intertwine, together we change the world?
What if our families remained strong and our integrity in tact because we stop stretching ourselves beyond our limits in the name of Jesus?
What if he received fuller, more authentic glory because all that we do in his name is done in balance and according to his Word?
What if instead of going a mile wide and an inch deep we just.dig.deep?
This morning I received a precious email in my inbox. The aforementioned woman in ministry probably receives 100 of these emails a day. I get one, maybe every month.
My favorite part of this sweet note? The fact that I can respond to it. The reality that because we’re “small” I can truly connect to this woman who so vulnerably reached out to me. To me, that is HUGE. I’m sure there are many people in big ministries that wish they had the time and space to truly connect with those they are working so hard to reach.
We can fully embrace the ministry opportunities God puts in front of us when we have room for authentic exchange. Once we get to a certain level of influence, our ability to engage in authentic exchange is compromised. This doesn’t mean it’s wrong to be in that place. God calls some to big platforms and graces them to remain there as long as he sees fit. But for the rest of us, perhaps it’s time we enjoy the benefits of being “small.”
What if small is just as rewarding as big? No, what if it’s more rewarding because it requires less sacrifice? What if living YOUR best life, no matter how big or small the scale, means more positive change?
If it truly isn’t about us, then size and scope doesn’t matter. If it’s truly about him we should not be willing to sacrifice the good in the name of “great.”
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8
What if small is the new big?
What if limited is our ability to make limitless impact on a focused sphere?
What if we stopped comparing and started loving the life we’ve been given in such a way that it matters much?
If we want our life to matter, we need to stop looking at what others have been given and start stewarding what’s right in front of us.
Live simply, love much. Think small, live large.
I’m ready. How about you?
I just love this post! “What if our families remained strong and our integrity in tact because we stop stretching ourselves beyond our limits in the name of Jesus?” Size of ministry in no way determines it’s effectiveness! We can get so caught up in numbers that we forget the souls we are ministering to! It’s such temptation in this world of bigger is better! Thank you for this reminder as we head into the new year!