Jesus Every DayНамуна

Small Beginnings

Who dares despise the day of small things?
Zechariah 4:10, NIV

When I came to pastor the Brooklyn Tabernacle decades ago, we had just a handful of people. At first, I had natural enthusiasm. I wasn’t seminary trained, and my sermons were bad, and the offerings were pitiful—the first one I collected was eighty-five dollars—but I still felt that God had called me.

One Tuesday night, I was getting ready for our evening meeting, which always had a meager turnout. I came downstairs from my little office (which was so small that when I counseled couples, it could hold only me and one other person at a time!). When I walked into the sanctuary, I saw two women. Not two thousand. Not two hundred. Not even fifteen or twenty, like we sometimes had on a Sunday. Two. My heart sank.

Zerubbabel, an Old Testament leader, battled discouragement too. Israel had been in captivity for seventy years in Babylon. But now God had Zerubbabel and a dedicated remnant of people return to resettle the land they had been driven from. Their first priority was to rebuild the Temple. So, on the spot where Solomon’s Temple had stood before being destroyed by the invading Babylonians, they started to work.

Many of the younger people shouted for joy. But most of the older ones remembered the glory of the former Temple, and when they saw the new foundation, they “wept aloud” (Ezra 3:12, NLT). My goodness, they thought. After what we once had, you’re going to call this the new Temple? I mean, really. It was almost an embarrassment.

But God encouraged Zerubbabel and the people: “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this Temple, and his hands will complete it. Who dares despise the day of small things?” (see Zechariah 4:9–10, NLT).

When we build or rebuild, things always start small. Maybe you’ve stepped out to serve the Lord in some new way, and the fire is barely alive, with just a few embers glowing. Maybe you’ve witnessed to neighbors and not much seems to be happening. That’s when the enemy whispers, “Nothing is going to come of this!”

When I saw those two ladies that night, I took the microphone, trying to act like a polished preacher. I should have said, “Hey, sisters, would you just come up here and pray and wait on God with me?” Afterward, I felt so defeated. How I needed God to encourage me. And he did. He spoke to my heart, “Two is better than one—better than none. Don’t despise the day of small things.”

Everybody wants to be successful overnight. We all want to see our entire neighborhood come to Christ, but our next-door neighbor won’t even open his door. The enemy laughs. “Ha, he’ll never turn to God. Give it up!”

Let’s never despise the day of small things. What God begins, he will finish. He will honor our work for him and turn it into something beautiful for his glory. We will be able to praise him and then help others who are ready to quit. It’s always too soon to quit! Let’s trust God. He will bring his purpose to pass as we walk with him day by day.

Lord, I believe that you are with me, but it’s discouraging when I don’t see much fruit. Help me to stay faithful, trusting that you are up to something great for your glory.

Want more Jesus Every Day? This plan was inspired by Jim Cymbala's new devotional, Jesus Every Day. In Jesus Every Day, Jim Cymbala, a bestselling author and senior pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, offers 100 devotions that will inspire you to experience Jesus anew, find strength in his promises, and discover hope and encouragement on a daily basis. What would your life look like with Jesus every day? Discover more at https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/jesuseverydaybook/.