WHEN IT'S OKAY TO FEEL SMALL... - Laura Thomas Author

Do you ever feel the desperate need for a little perspective in life? Busyness, work, kids, family, church, relationships—they all require our undivided attention and sometimes we need reminding WHO we are and WHY we are here! We spin plates and juggle responsibilities like a manic circus performer and feel like we are the glue; we are the Big Cheese in our little world. But you guys—it’s okay to feel small…

After a rather hectic summer, Lyndon and I finally managed to get away for a week. We jumped into my little Beetle (Miss Daisy) and took her on her first major road trip to Florence in the stunning Oregon Coast. The 2500km round trip was more than I could have imagined, and filled us both up—and not just with outrageously good seafood!

I think I needed reminding of my smallness and God’s bigness.

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?” Isaiah 40:12

The vast expanses of sand stretching for miles and the powerful waves crashing against gigantic boulders—oh boy, utterly exhilarating and awe-inspiring. It was also somewhat humbling to think of my tiny self as a part of God’s creation.

Who am I? Yeah I’m literally small (5’2” on a good day) but there are times when I need to feel that smallness, that humanness in relation to the grandeur of the Almighty. It reminds me how incredibly blessed I am to be loved by the Creator. It shows me the magnitude of God’s love—and then when I remember that He saw me before I was even born (Psalm 139) and He considers sinful me worthy of the sacrifice of His Son… and I get major chills. Amazing grace.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1a

My very best childhood memories were at the beach. I was born and bred on the south coast of England and the beach was, and still is, my carefree, happy place. I don’t recall ever being stressed, scared, or insecure at the beach—I guess that plays a part in why I ground myself there even today. Maybe you have a special place, too, somewhere God distinctly whispers, “You are loved, you are my child”…

“I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?” Psalm 8:3-4 (The Message)

It truly is humbling. Those everyday plates we were juggling before with such intensity and anxiety—they become just plates. Important, but not ultimate. Suddenly, God is ultimate and we realize why we are here—to worship and glorify Him. It feels right and natural and beautiful.

Rather than being overwhelmed by our circumstances, let’s be overwhelmed by the love of our magnificent Heavenly Father.

Friend, I challenge you to find a lake or forest or ocean or mountain or some glorious speck of creation where you can appreciate God’s bigness and His love for you.

And I’m going to revel in my smallness! 🙂