What if the Small Thing Is the Miracle? - The Crosswalk Devotional - November 9
What if the Small Thing Is the Miracle?
By: Lia Girard
Bible Reading:
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” – John 6:9-13, NIV
What an astounding miracle it is that everything visible and invisible originates from God on purpose, from the smallest electron through the infinite expanse of eternity. It’s also miraculous that you and I were born on a planet that’s constantly spinning in perfect balance with the sun and moon, while all of us stay grounded by gravity.
And although humans can conceive, design, build, plant, and renovate in amazing ways, our efforts are always made possible by a miraculous God. We can’t grow things without the dirt or water God made. We can’t live without the sunshine and oxygen God supplies. And as Matthew 19:26 explains, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Now, I’ve never witnessed illogical miracles, like elephants cracking out of eggshells or the sky becoming green while grass turns crystal-clear. But I’ve seen miracles of many proportions. The truth is, whatever makes any one of us exclaim, “It’s a miracle!” may seem small to someone else. But to you, any size miracle can be immensely meaningful. And I believe God loves that.
Scripture tells us that God not only knows every star in the universe by name (Psalm 147:4), but that he’s also numbered the very hairs of your head (Luke 12:7). He isn’t only present in the jaw-dropping, show-stopping miracles; he also cares deeply about the granular details of your life and every small gesture.
One of my favorite biblical stories proving that even a small thing can be a miracle is when the hungry thousands gathered to hear Jesus speak after witnessing his healing power. In this passage, Jesus chooses a small boy’s meager lunch to demonstrate his immeasurable love. With just five barley loaves and two fish, given by a child, thousands had more than enough to eat.
I think it’s valuable to note that before Jesus distributed the loaves and the fish, he gave thanks. Perhaps this is an expression of gratitude for the truth that, although the boy and the amount were small, the potential and provision within them were extraordinary.
I think about this concept of small things being wondrous even more during the approach of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The season always inspires me to give thanks for everything, including the hard parts that taught me, the meager times that disciplined me, and the sustenance gathered during phases of change or loss that surprised me. Sometimes the smallest thing can hold the most meaning, even though it doesn’t loudly “announce” itself or appear as a decadent luxury. It can lightly arrive and amaze you, nonetheless.
Small miracles like this can come in the form of unexpected quiet time in a season of overwhelm. Or finding an old memento. Or getting a phone call from an estranged family member. It may be as fleeting as a visit from a butterfly or any wild aspect of nature that a loved one treasured. It could be small enough for anyone else to overlook.
It could also be as small as a mustard seed, as we learn in Matthew 17:20. Or as gentle as the whisper Elijah heard in 1 Kings 19:12. It can also appear as vulnerable as a newborn wrapped in cloths in a manger (Luke 2:12). Size isn’t a qualifier of miracles. It’s a miracle because it feels like love, and it astonishes your heart.
As you move through Thanksgiving toward Christmas this year, allow yourself margin to look for and notice the small things that are miracles from God to you. Apart from grandiose gestures or expensive gifts, these brief moments and tiny miracles can fill your basket — and others’ — to overflowing.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As the season turns toward Thanksgiving and Christmas, here’s an easy idea:
Set a small notebook next to your bedside. Each evening before bed, write down just one thing you appreciated that day. Choose something that may seem insignificant or silly to someone else, but God knows it made you smile. In time, when you look back through your entries, you’ll witness the miracle of a grateful heart.
Further Reading:
Zechariah 4:10
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
Luke 16:10
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
Photo Credit: Thinkstock/EwaPix
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