by Martha June

“It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God: but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, and this is not learned in five minutes.”

Oswald Chambers

Following my High School graduation, God began shifting my heart and mind in a big way. What I believed was God’s will for my life began changing along with my relationship with the Lord. God challenged my priorities and my ideas on what a life pleasing to God really was. This lesson began with reevaluating what I was doing for God.

I believe we as humans are wired to do and accomplish tasks in life. As a whole, we work towards results in work, family, and school etc., Because of this, intentionally or not we desire to live a life that reflects some sort of accomplishment. Therefore, we tend to put more emphasis on “big plans” and a “big life” lived to the fullest. And by comparison, we undermine lives lived simply for the glory of God.

This is what I believed for many years. Living a life in total surrender to God was the ultimate job. And while this is still true, I did not understand that God cared more about my heart than my job title. Faith is more than what you dedicate your life to, it is how you live your life in the day to day.

As I stepped into the college environment and began working more, God began showing me what it looked like to be faithful in the small things. While I prayed for him to show me my “big next step” God was impressing on my heart to focus on the smaller areas of my life.

I quoted Oswald Chambers above –

What does it look like to be faithful in the small things? On mean streets among mean people?

It begins with 1 Corinthians 13 –

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Big and visible works are highlighted here. Speaking in tongues, prophetic powers, understanding all mysteries, and removing mountains are powerful and public abilities. Yet, they are not the anchor of a life lived with God. Instead, it is love.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (boldness by me)

Traditionally, this verse is used in weddings or in reference to relationships that will lead to marriage. However, it serves as an example of what a daily life and love of the Lord looks like. The focus of this verse is on character and sticking with your convictions – motivated by the love of God.

God began asking me questions about the seemingly small parts of my character, and today I will pose similar questions to you.

Will you be irritable or resentful with the people around you? Or will you learn to be patient and forgiving? (A hard lesson!)

Will you show kindness to your family, and coworkers as much as you do with strangers?

Will you go the extra mile at work, even if it is not required of you?

Will you be a man/woman of your word?

Will you be faithful to meet with God?

Will you work for the Lord, no matter your occupation, instead of for man? How will that change your standards?

Being faithful can be described as being “constant” in your actions. These are small challenges we are met with constantly in life. Therefore we have a constant opportunity to put this idea into practice.

In learning this lesson, I realized that God did not require faithfulness because I needed to work for his love. God is not a God of legalistic actions. Instead, God was teaching me that it is because of the love of God that I should be faithful. Even when no one is looking.

These small actions, being patient and kind, setting my wants and desires aside, maintaining an attitude of faithfulness to God’s patience, God’s kindness, God’s attitudes towards others is exhausting without God’s help. Because God’s nature does not come naturally to me.

Right there is another lesson. I need to lean into the Holy Spirit and into God himself if I want his heart to shine in my life. And once I let him into one area, I have to be ready for him to change them all. If I learn to be faithful in the small things, the big things will come much easier to me. Because everyday and every moment are already his.

This is a lesson I am learning every single day. And honestly, it is a lesson I sometimes forget. But!!! Learning how to be faithful in the small things has changed my life.

I hope it does the same for you.

Martha June