The Day of Small Things

Written by Colette Fabry

Zec 4:9-10 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice , and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” – God 

God wakes Zechariah with a vision about the temple that was being rebuilt. No doubt it was a daunting task to reconstruct the magnificent temple that had been destroyed. It had taken 20 long years so far, and it was frustrating to see only little things being done and taking such a long time. God is reminding Zechariah that the days of small things combined with God’s Spirit, power, and grace, will lead to rejoicing. Small things are steps to larger things and are necessary to create the entire picture. 

Day in and day out of raising children, the small, mundane things never seem to end. When putting in years of school work toward degrees and diplomas- each day is filled with small, tedious tasks. Even minute-by-minute, life is filled with small things. But just like the small things of the temple, these things in our lives are necessary to complete the whole project. They are days of priceless shaping and preparation to one day complete a picture. 

God doesn’t waste anything- not a moment nor a day, not a season in our lives or in things like the growth of a church. Small things are necessary, and God ordains the lessons they teach us and ways they refine us. In the day of small things- days of trial and temporary difficulties, days of ups and downs, this portion of scripture reminds us that God sees. His eyes run across the whole earth and He sees. He reminds us that the finished work of anything done in partnership with Him is always accomplished by His Spirit, His grace, His power, and the accumulation of the small things. 

Remember, we shall rejoice! “God accepts your little works if they are done in faith in his dear Son. God will give success to your little works: God will educate you by your little works to do greater works; and your little works may call out others who shall do greater works by far than ever you shall be able to accomplish” – Spurgeon