Job 8:7 ESV Though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
The other day I was putting the second truckload of bulk compost on my community garden plot. The first truckload I had used the community garden's wheelbarrow and was a bit scornful of how tiny the wheelbarrow was and how many trips I had to make between the truck and the plot. The second truckload that I picked up, I decided that I was going to take my large wheelbarrow from home and get it done quicker. The threat of rain in the forecast solidified my determination to haul as much as I could as fast as possible.
I get to the plot and immediately set to work shoveling the compost out of the truck into my large wheelbarrow. Even though I already knew that it was large, I was still a little surprised at how heavy the load is as I start pushing it to my plot. I thought, "well, it is early in the morning once my coffee hits my blood stream it will be okay." I am 50-something but I must have forgotten that because each load seemed to get heavier and heavier. Even as the loads were getting heavier the skies were getting darker and the drizzle of rain started. After about 6-8 wheelbarrow loads in, I sat down on my stool I brought in complete exhaustion. Feelings of being overwhelmed and slightly panicked as I had borrowed the truck and did not know how I was going to get it emptied in order to return it. Then I remembered the small wheelbarrow. Even though I was worn out, overwhelmed and feeling every minute of my age I was still slightly scornful of this little wheelbarrow (which is probably the right size for a 50+ lady). But I knew that this was my only alternative to get a little more done because even though I wouldn’t be able to haul very big loads and it would be slower, at least I would get a little more done before the rain came. As I wheeled my first load I was surprised how light and easy it was to wheel to my plot. Filling it and dumping it was quick too. It wasn’t long until the job was done and my whole garden plot was covered and ready to be planted up.
It was at that moment that God spoke to me about how he just wants us to make forward progress. Sometimes that forward progress is with quick joyful steps while carrying a large load but sometimes it is with small painful steps while carrying just a handful. Sometimes we are strong and fierce and make huge progress quickly but other times we are tired, overwhelmed, ill or weary and our progress isn't as much as we would like. During those times of small progress we judge ourselves harshly because we aren't doing ALL the things. We aren't hosting Bible studies numerous times a week, writing like we used to, knocking doors as often or having those 3-4 hour prayer sessions. We feel that the single Bible study is insufficient, our journaling not enough, fellowshipping with our neighbor as inadequate and the morning prayers to be too little. But God wants you to know that you should not discount the small things that you are able to do on the days you are weary or full of obligations. Those small things that you do makes huge impacts. Just as my garden plot was revitalized by the compost hauled in the small wheelbarrow, so will your neighbor be ministered to and encouraged by your fellowship, the small prayer breathed on the behalf of someone hurting is still heard by God. When all you can do are the small things, do the small things because there is rich, revitalizing value in those small things.
Zechariah 4:10 NLT Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin...
