I recently shared with a women’s group about my writing journey. One of the themes centers around this verse, “Who dares despise the day of small things . . .” (Zechariah 4:10).
I have a favorite song from the little church
I grew up in. “Little Is Much When God Is in It.” It was considered what we
called “special music”—a song someone sang as a solo or ensemble. The words are:
“In the harvest field now ripened, there’s
a work for all to do; Hark, the voice of God is calling to the harvest calling
you.
Does the place you’re called to labor seem
too small and little known? It is great if God is in it, and he’ll not forget
his own.
Little is much when God is in it, labor
not for wealth or fame; there’s a crown, and you can win it, if you go in
Jesus’ name.”
The woman who wrote that song, Kittie
Suffield, is someone whose name we may
not recognize but she was instrumental in the life of another many of us may
remember.
Kittie had aimed to become a concert artist
as a pianist or soprano but along with her husband wound up becoming a
traveling evangelist. They attended a church in Canada pastored by Rev. A.J.
Shea and met his son, George. The story is told that George tried to sing a
solo in church but his voice cracked on a high note, which greatly discouraged him. Kittie took
him aside to work with him and lowered the key to the song which made all the
difference. His confidence restored, George Beverly Shea continued to sing and
later was affiliated for many years with Billy Graham as a singer in his
crusades.
“Little Is Much When God Is in It” tells Kittie’s
story. She was headed toward greatness as a concert artist but instead surrendered that goal to the call of God to travel to little known places. She had what some may have considered a small role as an encourager in another's life, but her little became a much that God used to touch the
world.
I have held on to the message of that song
and have found it foundational in not only my writing journey but other endeavors
as well. My story in many ways continues to be a story of small things and
little being much.
Too often we’re looking for the broad
stroke or the sudden rise, but God is concerned with the minutiae of our lives
and our being faithful in little things.
So the next time we expect big, and God gives small, let’s remember what He can do with it and be encouraged.