Small Beginnings

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin...

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)

What a hard verse to read. Most things in life start small, and those first few moments of a new experience, feeling, relationship, career--they're hard. It is hard to find joy in the small moments. Hard to find peace or confidence in whatever endeavor you're beginning. It's hard to see how things will ever develop into what you're dreaming of.

But our perspective is so limited because we only see now--all we see are the small beginnings.

God rejoices to see the work begin. Because he is the author, God admires his work--even what seems like humble beginnings to us, he sees as part of his overall masterpiece. As we continue through life, we can look back and see clearly that God used our small beginnings to create a wonderful story, but I want to practice seeing these small beginnings as tiny victories along the way, not after the story is told.

Lord help me to trust in small beginnings, and to rejoice in them the same way You do, knowing that you are the author of all stories--beginning, middle, and end.

Pilgrimage

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baka,

    they make it a place of springs;

    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

 They go from strength to strength,

    till each appears before God in Zion.

Psalm 84:5-7

How desperately I needed to hear this tonight. I needed a reminder that my life and journey with God is not a sprint. So often, I ask God for something and expect it right away. We live in a culture where the pace is increasingly fast, where impulses are easily gratified, and where our satisfaction cannot be delayed or else it is diminished. 

But these verses say that blessed are those whose hearts are on pilgrimage. Not whose hearts are sprinting, not whose hearts only see the short-term. Those who are in it for the long haul are blessed. The Valley of Baka translates to the Valley of Weeping. As we pass through the hard spots, we are refreshed. And we are able to go from strength to strength before we see God face to face. 

What comfort there is knowing that our relationship with God will continue to grow. We won't ever reach capacity, but we are given one revelation, one strength, one moment at a time along our journey. And the reward for us is God's blessing. Is there anything else we could desire more? 

Delayed blessings are God's way of perfecting us, building our strength along our pilgrimage.

Patience will pay off. We must have vision to see ahead and trust God's divine plan.