Into the Fire

Do you ever feel “big”? Like in important, successful, irreplaceable? Me neither.

In fact, most of the time I feel small. Like insignificant, prone to failure, and un-entitled to feel any other way about myself. This brings us to a fine line of discernment. We are small. I am small. In the big picture: especially small. We may be important in our families, to our loved ones, even to some of our associates—and very possibly considered successful and irreplaceable by those same people—but once the space enlarges, we shrink.

There is a place for smallness. Intricate understanding of who we are creates the smallness of humility. Nothing more necessary in a character trait than humility, genuine humility. Some people seem to equate self-loathing with humility. Some people excel in self-deprecating humor and think it keeps them–or points their listeners to noticing how– humble they are. Somewhere in the midst of all the different ways people try to come off as being humble there must be a balance—and a way to produce the real thing.

The truth is without the Holy Spirit’s instruction, people don’t get it. I don’t get it. I know I feel small. I know there are zillions of people who are more talented, more intelligent, much better looking, and the list goes on and on. That’s not fiction or humility. It’s fact. Well, maybe not the “zillions” part. Anyway, sometimes it’s alright to “shrink”. To quit focusing on “me” and how I either succeeded or failed at this, that, or the other. It’s better, too, to admire or respect someone who has not failed here or there because most certainly they are not without failure in some other part of their lives. The comparison game will only drive you deeper into small-ville until you’re beyond petite and right down there in the microscopic mode of existence. No point in that.

I know this much about feeling small. I am. Jesus working through me can make me larger than life in accomplishing His business, however it is He is able to use me. All the credit goes to Him. Being small is the best place to be in contrast to being large in one’s own eyes or even viewed from the world’s lens. When we allow anyone to convince us of our bigness, we forget who it is who has given us any successes or victories or accomplishments. And in contrast to that, when we allow anyone to convince us that we are a waste of their valuable time, we forget who gave us value and paid the price that we might live through Him.

God made you. He gave His Son to redeem you. If Jesus lives in you, you can do all things through Him who gives you strength. He is BIG. You are small. That’s okay in Him. I feel better now.

Father, I am small. Make sure I become, remain, understand how to be, humble. Then you will lift me up to those wonderful places with you. I am helpless and hopeless without you, Lord. I need you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.