We might worry quite a bit about being small.
We might worry that our words unfurl and flutter away from our small corner of the night into the vast cosmos of the Internet. We might tilt our heads and look way, way back at the stars twinkling from so high and think, “I will never burn as bright or share as powerful, or tell a truth that sears the collective mind the way they do.”
And then we look down at our scuffed carpets and feet and hear the voice that mutters, “Why even bother?”
May I sit down next to you? May I sit crisscross apple sauce on that pock marked carpet and whisper into your ear?
Small, my friend is exactly the right size.
Small is understanding ourselves in true relation to the God who made us.
Small is being able to write fearless, without worry about big criticism.
Small is fitting into our own shoes.
Small is how the Savior fit into our skin.
…but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. ~Philipians 2:7.
Small is the size of every new beginning. Create without a measuring stick. And after a while you might forget the size of your voice.
–you’re so caught up in the scope of what you ache to say.
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{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, this morning I have felt so, so small today. Perfect timing, as always.
You have read my mind and seen my heart today, sister. Thank you for these words. Exactly what I needed today.
Your words are medicine for my soul today -as I stand at the beginning of the world of writing and feel very, very small. Thank you SOOOO much. I might read your words 10 times today.
So needed to hear this today! Thanks!
oooh, I’m giddy over this! bravo!
“–you’re so caught up in the scope of what you ache to say.” love this!
Trying to embrace the small today and do away with the measuring stick. So very hard, but so necessary.
Please sit on my carpet and whisper into my ear any time! I love your perspective and lately I’m even enjoying being small because “Small is being able to write fearless, without worry about big criticism.” Thanks for your kind insight.
Beautiful! Sitting here in my smallness remembering that His strength is made perfect in my weakness and loving all of the examples of smalls (David, Esther, Gideon, etc…) that He used for His great glory.
Your small voice echoes over and over in my heart so often. Thank you for daring to write, to encourage, to confirm, and to challenge alongside me…
Oh thank you, friend! Thanks so much!
Every time I’m here I feel a little lighter and just right.
Peace.
Like a cool drink of water…
Thank you so much… this is so what I needed to hear… could it just keep playing on audio in my head? Today is just one of those days…
Loved this encouragement. Thank you. Small is exactly the right side. God can do his best work there.
“Like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” Thank you for this word fitly spoken!
thank you for these words. this feeling of insignificance is hard to overcome, which in reality has nothing to do with being small, just afraid. beautiful words as always.
This was important for me to hear- these past few weeks, I’ve wondered if my blog is just a pointless waste of time. It’s hard to talk when you feel like no one is even listening. Thank you for this.
l think you’ve been peeping in my journal. It’s been hearing a lot about the feeling of small and insignificant lately. I needed your reminder and Christ’s likeness that nothing is good, small is grand, and lowly is high. Thank you and blessings!
awww. i feel like you just sat down with me on the couch and gave me a good talkin’ to.
true words that pierce my heart this eve.
thank you.
and thank you, again.
steph
Really enjoyed this. It’s hard to be small – sometimes it feels like my blog will never grow. I have to remind myself that God is writing my story for His good pleasure and that all things work together for my good. You just want to know that what you do MATTERS, and when you are small, it’s hard to know that. I need to remember to focus on my audience of ONE. Thanks for the sweet reminder!
when i read other women, i am humbled and encouraged again and again. this is the right post for me to read today. just sayin.
I do struggle with this at times – mainly when I listen to the enemies’ lies. And he likes to whisper to me a lot.
Your words ring so true though. And it’s good to read them and hear them again and remind ourselves that we are valuable simply because we are authentically ourselves. Not because others tell us so.
Lisa-Jo, this has been on my heart in recent days as I’ve considered my own little blog. I must decrease; He must increase – and then I will be “big” in every way that matters.
Thank you so much for the way you encourage and love.
Every time I consider giving up writing (mainly because there are so many other things I want to spend time on, too), along comes something that encourages me to write more. Today, it was this. I like small – crave small – but sometimes still wonder why I bother.
I often feel small and insignificant and overlooked. It’s something I’ve been struggling with my entire life. Thank you for the reminder that small is big in God’s eyes. The smaller the better really!
Create without a measuring stick…love this line. Such a powerful post and great dose of encouragement for me today.
Prayer of my heart this morning. God gave me a unique ministry that he calls me to and it looks different from any other. Comparison is just believing a lie that isn’t from God.
Oh. my. goodness. sister.
I relate, I relate, I relate. I’d sitting right there with you. Thank you for this nudge.
xo
Cassandra @ the unplugged family
Thank you so much for reminding me that small is just the right size today. I will work with my small.
Thank You …and I love you…:)
This is absolutely beautiful.
Slightly related: I always think that famous bloggers are taller than me, but probably only about 15% of them are.
So beautiful.
I sometimes wonder why I blog and when I do my husband reminds me it was because of the Lord and his prompting.
It is scary because just recently I opened it from private to public and it feels strange to have readers who I don’t know.
I will remind myself that small is good and if it helps one person that is enough.
Thank you.
Thank you. For writing these words of encouragement to me.
I may never fit in a size small, which makes my small world that much sweeter. It’s the skin I’m supposed to be in and the world I’m supposed to see. A perfect fit.
Thank you, Lisa-Jo. You always write perfectly to the size of my heart.
Beautiful post. Thank you!
Lisa-Jo. This is so beautiful and encouraging!!! I sent the link to this post to my writers group. Thank you….
This is like a little beacon to remind us of what is important
Thank you!
Of course, I needed this today- So beautifully written, Lisa-Jo. Such sweet encouragement found here…. thank you!
Going to share this on my FB. Great message!
Welcome to my spot of “pock marked carpet”!! Thanks for speaking to my heart!
Yes and amen and preach it, sister.
So encouraging!
…but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. ~Philipians 2:7.
Mmm, so good…
Oh, yes. Just the right size. Love this & thank you, Lisa-Jo.
This is wonderful.
I absolutely love that this came from your fingers, your heart . . .
straight from the heart of our Father.
Thank you for being used by Him to help us all stay connected, in this big ole messy sisterhood on the internet.
It is who we are ABOUT that matters. Not the numbers in our stats.
I hate that I so easily let that truth slowly become equal to the numbers . . . and sometimes dip below the numbers before I realize it, and give it all back to Him.
Thank you again.
Great stuff! Lovely. Free to be.
I prayed for years to stay “hidden” in Christ. His greatness and His glory!
Thx Sis, u bless me.
x
I needed this!! Thank you!
Also, I must thank you for encouraging me; On Friday I DID post a Five Minute Friday post =) I stepped out of my comfort zone to do it, but I’m glad I did!
That my friend, was delicious, food for the soul!
Absolutely spot-on.
And now there are tears in my criss cross apple sauce sitting across from you position….