I enter the arena of life a lot of mornings ready for a fight. My dukes are up, elbows in, jaw locked tight. I have the bob and weave down pat. Ready to face the challenges of the day.
My stance is set and ready to lung at anyone who challenges my place, my purpose. It’s almost as if I start the day looking for a fight, looking for a reason for dissonance. I entered a self-imposed battle for significance. It’s a battle to prove that where I am- this awkward place in the middle-is okay. (The thing is, it doesn’t always feel okay!)
This morning when I woke up I felt exhausted, like I didn’t sleep a wink. And I thought to myself, “I’m tired of fighting.” I suppose I have had a subtle awareness of my desire for a fight, but perhaps it wasn’t until this moment, when my strength gave way, that I realized I had been fighting everyone and everything that I allowed to make me feel less. I didn’t possess the energy or the will to fight for my significance anymore.
These over-sized boxing gloves had become a defense mechanism to mask my small and timid hands. I fought to prove to others, and even myself that I had the strength and courage to get in the ring for something bigger than I was equipped for.
The gloves were on because I had been on the defensive even with God. The gloves cover my face to hide my disappointment in what He called me to for now. He is not calling me to be like David as he fought Goliath. Instead, He is calling me to be faithful, consistent, present and whole-hearted in the little, seemingly insignificant parts of my life.
Today, as I flung the gloves to the ground in surrender, and accepted my rightful place to be faithful in the small things, God reminded me, David could only have had courage to step boldly into the ring with Goliath because he experienced God’s faithfulness in the field.
1 Samuel 17:37 (NIV) says,”The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of the Philistine.”
On this earth, awards aren’t given for the little things in life. Parades aren’t marched for the best folded laundry, or being on time to pick the kids up from school. Celebrations aren’t thrown for the dinners cooked, beds made, and bills paid. But it is our faithfulness in the little things that prepares us for the big thing God has for us.
Today, I am hanging up my gloves. I am choosing not to fight the battle to prove my significance. In God’s eyes the little things are significant. Faithfulness with what seems to be insignificant is proof that He can trust me with more.
If you are reading this blog and you too feel like God is calling you to focus on one day at a time, keep reading. If He is asking you to keep your head down and be content with what you feel is insignificant, let me encourage you with two more verses that have helped me.
Luke 16:10a (TPT) “The one who manages the little he has been given with faithfulness and integrity will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities.”
Isaiah 40:29 (ESV) “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”
Hang up the gloves, and be at peace with the little things He is calling you too. Lastly, let Him increase your might with his word on the days you find your strength has faded.
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