The BIG or the Small?

We are big on the big aren't we?  We love big wins, big houses, big vacations, big hotels, big churches, big business, big government, big, big, big.  We are a people who gravitate toward the big.  We celebrate the big.  Oh you can  act like we don't, but we do.  

The problem with focusing on the big is that you miss the small.  Small acts of kindness. Small examples of love.  Small expressions of peace and justice.  We read Scripture and we see the big:

• David and Goliath (the small beats the big!)
• Jonah and a big fish
• Big wilderness
• Big plagues
• Big parting of a sea
• Big healings
• Big miracles

Yes, God does big things, but He also works in the small.  He is in the ordinary, daily and the routine.  We are the ones who miss Him.  We assume the mundane is simply the mundane, but nothing is mundane with God.   My experience has been that God appears more in the small than the big productions.  Small movements in people, groups, churches, missions, and ministry change the world.  I've seen Him in every day life more than I've seen Him in the big.  Maybe your experience has been different.  Maybe you only see God in the big and that's okay.  When you look for God in the big you can overlook His activity in every day life.  

Elijah had experienced God in a big way on Mt. Carmel, but he almost missed the small. God spoke to His prophet in the small (1 Kings 19):

¹¹ And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. ¹³ And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold,there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

Yes, Gentle whisper.  Still small voice.  Impressions.  Thoughts.  Little acts of kindness, thoughtfulness by others that appear to be otherwise random, meaningless acts or words.  When's the last time you heard the whisper of God?  When's the last time His words made the hair on the back of your neck stand up?  When is the last time you stepped back from the big noise and stood on the mountainside of life listening for the still small voice?

The God of the BIG is also the God of the small.  I'm small.  I'm irrelevant in the BIG scheme of things, but guess what?  The BIG God cares for little me's and little you's!  Pull away from the big noise and listen for the small voice, the whisper of God. Then go, do and be!