Don’t Despise Small

by Brad Spangler

Let’s face it, the idea of going “BIG” is exciting! The statement, “Go big or go home” lends itself well to my natural personality. If I’m going to take on a new venture, I want it to be something that scales upward and outward. Although this mentality has some excellent qualities, it can also have its shadow side. The side where small beginnings and acts of obedience are overlooked or, even worse, despised. 

As a personal trainer, I encountered a problem with new clients: their eagerness to see results quickly. Instead of starting slow and taking the time to build in new small habits and routines, they would want to “go big.” Buying new supplements, starting the latest fad diet, and working out seven days a week, seemed a lot more exciting to them. But they soon realized that these big and sudden changes were not sustainable.

When you are passionate and excited about something, it can be tempting to skip over specific steps of the process. The problem is that you must learn how to keep or sustain any of the progress made. The level of your results will always depend on the status of your systems, and systems are typically developed through small, consistent changes. Legendary NFL former linebacker Ray Lewis summed it up well when he said, “Greatness is a lot of small things done well.” 

In Matthew 10:42 NLT, Jesus said, “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Small acts of obedience are usually the catalyst for us to impact the world significantly. I recently heard the story of a Pastor who planted a church in Amsterdam. In the beginning, after much promotion, his wife and child were the only people in attendance. The pastor was distraught, but thankfully he didn’t quit. Years later, the church has surpassed one thousand in attendance on any given weekend. If we are not faithful with little, then we will not be trusted with much. 

So what should you do if you have a big vision or a lot of passion? Let’s start small. Find one small thing you could do that will help you get closer to your overall goal or vision. Begin to do that faithfully, and you will see progress over time. The wheels of progress are usually slow to start, but as you stay consistent, they will begin to pick up speed. Eventually, more opportunities will start opening up to you. As the well known Chinese proverb states, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So, by all means, dream big, but remember it’s ok to start small. 

Questions for reflection:

Has there been a time in your life where you have stopped pursuing a dream because it seemed too overwhelming?

If so, what is one small habit you can do regularly that will help you get closer to that goal?

Are you willing to play the long game, or are you looking for quick results?