I have memories of hot, summer days. Playing outside until the sun baked me thoroughly. Running through sprinklers and if I was lucky, the ultimate game of cloud watching. A portrait of my smallness in juxtaposition with a sky covered with white, puffy goodness.
I remember lying on the grassy hillside in my yard as a young girl watching the clouds float by. My body seemed small in comparison to the puffy clouds floating by on a summer day. I adored being a cloud watcher and the small part I played in creating the best stories my eight year old mind could muster.
My mind turned to this thought, “If my smallness is a way to reflect the bigness of God, then I am in exactly the right place.” Small faith in a big world looks very different as an adult. Now I ask…
Is this enough? Can I accept small when the world values big? Does God still love me in my smallness?
God takes a chance on each of us. In this vast world, we are but a small blip on His radar. However, we are a chosen one. Is it enough to cultivate our smallness knowing God will grow us in His way and timing? I respond with a definite “yes”.
Jesus teaches us through stories and when I read about the mustard seed, I found the truth of how living small is enough. Big is the world’s way. Small is life-giving, space-making, mountain-moving, and soul-growing.
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. – Matthew 17:20 NLT
My own journey from cloud watching to mustard seed faith and finally mountain moving is all because of God. The story is a familiar one. It becomes my own story as I desire to seek God’s Kingdom. The more I grow as a Kingdom-seeker the more I become like God in my identity and how I live. Nothing is impossible with Him.
If nothing is impossible for me, then nothing is impossible for you. We can rest in that truth.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches. – Matthew 13:31-32 NLT
[Tweet “Embracing a posture of small gives God the space to take care of the big. #TellHisStory”]
The world teaches us more is better, but God reaches deep and shows us how important we are to Him. Our uniqueness is just right for the purpose God sets before us. The gifts we have to offer are enough. Being small is a caveat to sharing God’s greatness. Cloud watching comes first, as well as stories beyond our imagination, but honoring God moves Him from unknown to known.
Faith as big as a mustard seed leads us to overcoming the impossible.
Leaning into our identity in Christ gives us the confidence to remain small in a big world.
Small is the new big as we bend low to gain a better view of all God has for us.
Gazing up into the sky provides a unique perspective that points to new possibilities while reminding us we still need God to assist us in reaching higher and farther.
Together we can dream big, even if the road to our dreams cultivates a smaller reach first. Welcoming our smallness allows God to shine as the centerpiece of who we are in this great, big world.
Let’s become cloud watchers who share God’s story of our small faith in a big world.
Blessings!
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I love the big-cloud skies of late summer. Like you, I have many wonderful memories of laying on my back watching the clouds, making pictures and beginning to realize how great and how marvelous is our God. Putting ourselves in perspective – we are so small – is a good start on the path to humility. The path to God. Blessings on your Sabbath!
I can just see you watching the big clouds where you live. It is so freeing to lie back and imagine all the things they can be. It certainly creates a space for perspective and how we fit in this big world that God made for us. Blessings and hugs!
“Our uniqueness is just right for the purpose God sets before us. The gifts we have to offer are enough.” Sometimes I want to argue with God for making me an introvert, or this or that way. But then statements like yours are graced into my life, and I can thank him again for his wisdom in creating us just the way he wanted us to be. Thanks, Mary!
I wish I didn’t take God’s truth and try to create my own. I know that is all the enemy’s doing. I imagine we are not alone in arguing with what God says about us. Love having you here today, Lisa!
Hi Mary, It is a blessing to be small with a great big God! Thanks for this wonderful reminder of what God can do with our small faith. God bless!
Thank you for joining in the conversation, Connie! Our God is amazing and I pray we all see this in our everyday lives. Blessed you are here today.
I love this perspective – to be small for making much of God is far better than to feel small – focusing on my weakness and feeling sorry for myself! Thanks so much!
Thank you, Sue! There is something about bending low that gives us a better perspective of God and all He can do. Thank you for being here.
I am behind this week – but, undoubtedly, that is because I needed these words of encouragement exactly today. I am really going to try and embrace a posture of small – ignoring the doubts or other negative thoughts. I’m also going to re-read this post. Several times! Thanks, Mary – have a great weekend ahead!
Well, I am glad you are here whether you think you are on time or not. You are a valuable member of this community. Thank you for reading and I pray these words continue to teach as the week goes on. Blessings and hugs!
Thank you for inviting me to the party Mary. It’s been so long since I’ve linked up that I almost forgot how. Blessings friend. Patti
You’re welcome! Hopefully this all comes back to you. I know I am thrilled to have you and your beautiful words here.
Resting in the truths you shared here, Mary. Thank you. Much love to you today.
I am resting with you, Julie! These are words I need to out on repeat. Blessed to have you here. Sending you love and hugs!
Dear Mary,
Thank you for painting these cloud dreaming pictures here! I loved this especially:
“Leaning into our identity in Christ gives us the confidence to remain small in a big world.
Small is the new big as we bend low to gain a better view of all God has for us.”
Oh Lord, open my eyes to see the beauty of being small so that You can have full reign to be big for me! I’m so glad you shared these words today. Blessings to you!
I always feel so small when I look up at the sky and watch the clouds go by. In the scheme of the vastness of God, we are but a teeny, tiny dot somewhere on the map of the universe. So bending low reminds me that God is in control and He oversees all. I am grateful for your words here and willingness to join in the conversation. Blessings and hugs!
Mary, such an affirming post. I have found confidence in the reality that God sees me, even as small as I am. He loves each of us intimately and individually.
I loved what you said here:
“The world teaches us more is better, but God reaches deep and shows us how important we are to Him. Our uniqueness is just right for the purpose God sets before us. The gifts we have to offer are enough.”
Isn’t it an amazing thought that we are important to Him?! Thanks for these reminders, friend. This is such a truth-packed post!
It’s amazing and almost unbelievable at times that God chose us and believes in us. I am in awe. Maybe it is my age or maybe it is a different perspective, but I look at my relationship with God in a different way than even a year ago. Belonging to Him is a treasure and one that I pray I never take for granted. It’s always wonderful to have you here. You add so much to the conversation.
“Let’s become cloud watchers who share God’s story of our small faith in a big world.” Joining you in watching clouds and seeing shapes. This is one of my all-time favorite things to do in the car. Best when someone else is driving, but I do it when driving too. I can’t help myself. I know God paints pictures for us and keeps changing them up to make us smile.
Thank you, Mary, for the reminder that it is ok to be small. I always want to do something so big for God, but I realize those are my own vain attempts to be somebody important.
Still growing up here in Georgia…
There is something about clouds that are so fascinating to me. And I watch clouds while I am driving too but safety first, right?? I am like you and I will always work toward growing up. I am a work in progress and that is okay. Thank you for your sweet encouragement.
I love this perspective that remembering our smallness allows God’s greatness to shine through us. It makes sure the glory goes to him and not to us.
Isn’t it a gift that God works in and through everything no matter how small. May we posture our hearts toward God and honor Him in all we do. Love you friend!
Oh Mary, I watch clouds all the time. I am in awe of His power. We both used the mustard seed faith verse today. That is no accident 🙂 Your post is beautiful encouragement to our souls, small yet mighty in Him. I have to take my youngest son to 6th grade open house tonight. I will link up when I return this evening:)
God creates such amazing beauty for us to enjoy. I figured you captured the beauty of clouds on some of your walks. And I love how God connects words and at the same time hearts. Blessed to have you linking up today.
Small is the new big. I love it. Such good perspective. Visiting you today from tea and word link up. laurensparks.net
Thank you, Lauren! I’m so glad to have you here today. I would love for you to share your words at the #TellHisStory linkup. It opens every Tuesday right here.
And I think the older we get, the more challenging it is to risk dreaming big. Cynical or just a bit tired, our goal becomes to get through the day and make as few waves as possible. I’m encouraged by your thoughts here, Mary, and find my heart opening to the possibilities of the power of a big God with my small (but growing!) faith offered to Him.
There is such truth to your statement about how age inhibits us in our dreaming. I want to be the person who feels free to dream at any age. I pray we walk to gather toward all the possibilities God provides and in the process may our faith grow.
This is what I will be pondering today >> “Small is life-giving, space-making, mountain-moving, and soul-growing.” May I embrace the small things I do each day knowing they may be bigger than meets the eye! Thank you, Mary, for these encouraging words today!
Yes! I need to remember that my ordinary routines are God-honoring and can make a big difference. I’m so glad you joined in the conversation today.
Mary, hi! Your words bring to mind my own sprinkler jumping, cloud dreaming days.
And it made me happy …
Love that these words made you happy. I forgot how much I loved sprinkler jumping too. It sounds like we had a similar childhood. Thanks for being here.