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A new friend leans in as if she’s about to share a scandalous confession. She whispers, “My dreams are too small.” Then she shares about her desire to raise her kids to love Jesus, make a difference in her neighborhood and serve at her church. I smile and answer, “I think your dreams are just right. A God-sized dream isn’t really about size at all—it’s about what perfectly fits your heart and His purpose for your life.” She responds, “But others are doing bigger things for God like going far away to serve Him. I feel like my life isn’t enough.”
Those words echo what I’ve heard from thousands of other women. Somehow we’ve believed the lie that what we do needs to be flashy, noticeable and worthy of headlines in order to be spiritual. Yet the more I look at what matters to God, the more I’ve become convinced that isn’t true. My husband and I keep this verse in our office: “Seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). One phrase in particular stands out to me, seek to lead a quiet life.
In our busy, noisy, get-ahead culture those words are revolutionary. Yes, there may be times when God asks us to go on intense adventures with Him. But I believe we underestimate how often His invitation is simply for us to be faithful where we are with who He’s already put in front of us. As another friend of mine recently said, “A lot of ordinary days add up to an extraordinary life.”
I’ve heard it said that September is a bit like January, a time when we can pause and reflect. With that in mind, I’d like to challenge all of us to make three new, wildly different resolutions this fall…
- First, let’s intentionally say “no” more often. If we are doing something just because we “should” then we can pause and ask, “God, is this really Your best for me or is this just adding extra noise to my life?”
- Next let’s make room for rest. Isaiah 30:15 says, “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence.” Rest isn’t selfish—it’s essential for a lifetime of service.
- Finally, let’s change our idea of what we think really matters. What seems “huge” and popular is often small to God. And what goes unnoticed in our world is often a highlight from heaven’s perspective.
As my new friend and I wrap up our conversation, I hug her and say, “You’re doing more for the Kingdom than you realize. You’re making a difference beyond what you can see. Your ‘small’ is worth more than you could ever measure.” I’m saying the same to all of us today.
XOXO
Holley Gerth
Exciting News: Hope Your Heart Needs: 52 Encouraging Reminders of How God Cares for You releases this month. God used the truths in this devotional to bring new hope and strength to my weary, discouraged heart and now I’m sharing them with you. Preorder or read a free excerpt.
P.S. I’m speaking at The Declare Conference in October, and I’d love to see you there! Declare is a conference for women who write, blog, speak and podcast. The Declare team has given me a special code — VIPHolley — just for my followers, good for $200 off. But it’s only good for the first 10 people to use it, so don’t wait too long. I hope to see you there in October!
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