Do not Despise Small Beginnings
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin . . .”
- Zechariah 4:10 NLT
“I can see in the acorn the oak tree. I see the growth, the rebuilding, the restoring.”
- Maya Angelou
Small beginnings can be deceptive because nothing we see resembles where we are going. This is why it’s so important to continue working no matter what things appear to be. Many “successful” people will tell you that right before their breakthrough they almost gave up. There are countless actors, writers, professionals, preachers, and spouses that will tell you that their breakthrough came during a time when they were tired or wondering if it was ever going to happen for them. The thing that allowed each of them to experience their breakthrough was remaining planted.
The most beautiful and impactful things start out small. No matter what our personal ideas of success are for our lives, it will likely begin this way. Whether we desire a family, a business, a home, a platform, or all four . . . we can expect them to have small beginnings. When we are at the start of making these dreams a reality, we will likely only see us around, however we shouldn’t let this discourage us. God rejoices to see the work begin. This realization may become clouded due to the frustration of being far from the intended destination, but we must keep going. We cannot allow the frustrations of starting small keep us from continuing to grow. I implore us to not despise the day of small beginnings because they build the grit we need to sustain us in our next season.
This week, while I was brainstorming on this topic, an image came to my mind. I began to envision a large, strong oak tree in a green field with the sun shining through its branches. I thought about how something so large started off as a tiny acorn, then grew to a sapling, and finally grew into this magnificent tree. Oak trees have always symbolized strength, endurance, eternity, faith, and virtue. They withstand the changing seasons and weather many storms to become the best version of themselves. I began to realize that each desire within us is like an acorn. We have the potential to grow into a mighty oak tree, however we must nurture, water, and tend to our seed. The beginning may be small, however the end result will be wonderful. Arguably, there is no seed that displays what it’s like to not despise small beginnings like an acorn. They are resilient.
As Christians, I believe that becoming resilient is a part of what makes our faith so powerful. We know that life is not an easy cakewalk, however we are reminded that God has already conquered the world. Through this knowledge, we are able to keep the faith and know He will be with us no matter what comes our way. Despite what life throws at us, we will continue to “go again,” believing that He is doing a good work in us that will prepare us for where we are going. The resilience we develop allows us to speak into the lives of others and inspire them to continue pressing forward.
Below, I have included a few short excerpts that have really inspired me concerning the topic of small beginnings. Tyler Perry and T.D. Jakes are two amazing believers who are extremely vocal concerning their days of small beginnings. Each one of them are highly impactful in their respective arenas, and continue to inspire others through their work. I encourage everyone to take a moment and listen to the short clips listed below. Allow yourself the grace to grow into your full self, and do not despise the day of small beginnings. In due time, you will become the mighty oak tree. Give yourself permission to begin the work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld1F_as-eoA. (Tyler Perry)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXrzle3C_xU. (T.D. Jakes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn5YB9pNSjU. (T.D. Jakes)
I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day! I can’t wait to speak to you all next, Sunday!
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