The Beautiful Beginning
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” - Zechariah 4:10 NLT
When thinking of a Scripture to share with you at the beginning of the year, I couldn’t help but think about this one, particularly one phrase: “Do not despise the small beginnings.”
As humans (and Americans), we can tend to despise “small.” A 2024 study conducted by Lifeway Research revealed that “more than 2 in 5 Americans say they want more nice things.” Nearly half of Americans desire more. We aren’t naturally satisfied with what we have; we want “bigger” and “better.”
A bigger bank account.
A bigger social media following.
A bigger house.
A bigger car.
A bigger family.
The list goes on and on.
We’re constantly conditioned to think that more = better through advertisements, social media posts, and email subscriptions. And if we take it one step further, often, we’re taught that we will only be celebrated when we achieve this “more.”
But Zechariah 4:10 says differently; it tells us that, despite “small beginnings,” God “rejoices to see the work begin.” He doesn’t wait for the money to show up. He doesn’t wait for the follower count to hit 1,000. He doesn’t wait for more square footage, a third row, or another child. God rejoices at the small beginnings.
He rejoices in the tithe that may not amount to much (yet).
He rejoices in the faithful person who shows up consistently for the three people who attend her small group.
He rejoices in the newlyweds who do everything they can to take care of their 600-square-foot one-bedroom one-bathroom apartment.
He rejoices in the 2015 Mazda CX-5 with 210,000 miles on it.
He rejoices in the miracle of conception before that baby even breathes its first breath.
God loves the beginning, whether great or small. He also loves the middle, the end, and everything in between—so don’t be surprised by God’s rejoicing when you graduate to more income and influence, more square footage and cars, and more little blessings to chase around and love.
But don’t be surprised by the beauty in the beginning, either.
The start of a new year gives us a great opportunity to do just that—start. And while I’m sure you’ve seen this message a thousand times already, don’t forget this message. The message that isn’t about gaining followers, reaching goals, or making more money; the message about starting small and rejoicing in it.
What is it you want to do this year? Better yet, who do you want to be this year? Whatever you picture for yourself, keep these four steps in mind as you start your new year and your journey to start small:
It will never be the “perfect time.”
Scripture says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB). Perfect conditions rarely occur; whatever it is you’re wanting to accomplish this year, start now. Don’t let fear or “wrong conditions” keep you from beginning. Start small, and stay consistent.
God can do more with 10% than you can do with 100%.
While I’ve heard this phrase as a tithing principle, I think it applies to any area of life. If you believe you’ve heard from God on a vision or endeavor, start with what you have—even if it’s 10% of your energy, time, focus, or finances. God can do more with that 10% than you can do on your own with 100%. Let God take your “less” and turn it into more!
Be okay with holy discontentment.
A former boss of mine often spoke to our team about this concept, and it’s stuck with me for years. It’s the concept of being grateful for what we have, yet desiring more because we believe our God is a God of “more.” This “more,” though, doesn’t always refer to more “stuff;” it refers to more favor, influence, territory, opportunity, and blessing; it also often means more obstacles, attacks, spiritual warfare, and battles that refine us. It’s a holy discontentment that says, “God, I’m thankful for who You’ve been to me this far and what you’ve done, but I also believe You have more that you want to reveal and do.” It’s a holy discontentment that says, “God, I’m thankful for the small; I’m content with the small—but if You want to multiply it, I’m all in.” When God speaks, it’s okay to desire what He places in front of you—and it’s also okay if what you currently have all of a sudden doesn’t seem like “enough.” It could mean that God is leading you to something new, and this holy discontentment you feel is what catapults you into this new season.
Find a reason to rejoice every day.
Zechariah reminds us that God rejoices to “see the work begin,” so we should, too. It’s good to have goals, and it’s good to have plans to strategically reach those goals (if you want more help with this, contact me). However, don’t wait to rejoice until those goals are achieved; rejoice now. Rejoice at the start. Find a reason every day to rejoice, and celebrate it. If that’s good enough for God, then it’s good enough for us.
I pray that this year is everything you desire and more; I pray that God will blow your expectations out of the water, and I pray that as you take the step to start small, you will see and celebrate the beauty in the beginning.
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