Small Beginnings
I am absolutely dumbfounded at how humans think.
We live in an alternate reality the week between Christmas and New Year’s setting up goals or resolutions that we will just expect ourselves to start, beginning with a new year. The only difference between December 31st and January 1st, is that the clock strikes midnight, as it does every single other day of the year, and we hang up a new calendar. Our ambition is as big as the confidence we have in ourselves, because something inside us or around us lures us with the “magic” of a fresh start.
We know that more success is usually found when habits are formed little by little. I’ve been successful with resolutions and goals, but it wasn’t because I just made the “switch” and was successful from day one. There was planning and failure and adjustments along the way. Twelve step programs work because they break big, emotional tasks into smaller, practical actions. The world wants us to make leaps in our progress and productivity and entices us to do more. But starting small is progress too.
As I explore my Logos for 2024, Release, I previously mentioned beginning again the pursuit of publishing a book.
It’s unique that the world shares a common bond, in that, four years ago, we all had to pause our lives in some form. For me, I had finished a manuscript and just begun the revision process. Some people wrote whole manuscripts during the lock down phase of the pandemic. I, on the other hand, was dealing with constant stress and anxiety in my work life and writing was the last thing I wanted to do.
When I set the goal to restart the process of a book release, I had a realization:
In order to reach this goal, I needed to write on a regular basis.
When my blog went down last spring, I felt a mix of panic and freedom. I knew I could start again, even with a blank page in front of me. So when I launched this account last fall, I set a goal: One post a week. It wasn’t much, but I knew if I could get into a regular writing rhythm again, the book restart would be much more successful.
Just last week, I read a daily devotion titled, “Small Beginnings,” based on Zechariah 4:10:
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (NLT)
“… for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”
Well, right there in God’s Word is the encouragement I needed!
I could have easily jumped in with both feet and immediately felt overwhelmed by the prospect of restarting this process. Yet, it became much more doable to start small.
And then I thought about what Jesus says about the mustard seed in Matthew 17:19-21 (NLT):
Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”
20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
We let brokenness and hardship stop us, but that doesn’t change how God responds to us with His unconditional love.
He is with us when we begin.
He is with us when we pause.
He is with us when we fail.
He is with us when we finish.
I move further into 2024 with a “small beginnings” mindset, for I know that God rejoices with me no matter the size of my actions. And, with the faith He has given to me, nothing is impossible.