Do you ever feel as if your head is spinning? You know, with all the demands on your time and attention? Or do you struggle with what to do next because so many responsibilities are calling for your attention? I know for me, there are times when daily life can feel kind of overwhelming! I ask myself, “Where does all the time go? How can I get everything done?” Whoosh!
But here’s the deal: when we step back and consider our harried schedules compared to God’s plan for our lives, there can be quite a disparity. We wonder how we can survive all the demands. And then Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Yes, Jesus wants to give us rest and peace. But I can’t count the number of Christian people who write to me and talk about how they just don’t have enough time to do the things they really want to do. Or if they can carve out the time . . . they don’t have the money to make the changes in their lives that they want.
I get it. I’ve been there. And I praise God that He’s helped me figure some things out so I don’t miss out on His call or my hopes! So I want to ask you a question. But first start thinking about your hopes and desire . . .
Think of something you really want to do. It might be redecorating the living room. Or learning a new skill. Maybe you want to improve your relationship with your spouse or with your teen son or daughter.
You may have a desire to spend an hour in prayer and study each morning. Or read through the Bible in a year.
You may want to drop the weight you gained over the last year or save the money you would have to have for a family vacation.
For now, think about one thing you want to do that feels out of reach for you.
Now here’s the question: Maybe you can’t do it all, but what can you do?
For example, redecorating the living room in the way you want it might be a $2,500 price tag and you just don’t have the money right now. But what can you do to brighten up the space? Can you add some colorful pillows? Can you move the furniture around and add some plants to the room? Can you take some used wooden crates and repurpose them into your “new coffee table?”
You can’t do it all, but what can you do?
The same goes for improving a relationship. Maybe a romantic-movie-type relationship isn’t the picture of life for you and your spouse. But what can you do to add a bit of fun and romance to your days? Can you prepare your husband’s favorite meal and then set the dinner table with a simple bouquet of flowers? Say, “Honey, I know this is your favorite dinner so I wanted to make it special for you tonight.” No strings attached. No “now what’s he going to do for me?” Just a sweet gesture of love and appreciation. Keep planting seeds of simple acts of love and kindness and see how your relationship will grow!
Your schedule might need some rearranging before you can dedicate an hour each morning for prayer and Bible study. But how about starting with 15 or 20 minutes. Or until you can read through the Bible, perhaps you can read one chapter in the Gospels as a beginning point.
Like I said, you may not be able do it all, but what can you do?
Or that dream vacation you want. Maybe that trip to England you’ve always wanted is out of touch for now . . . but how about a long-weekend getaway to an old-fashioned bed and breakfast in a charming town? That’s very doable with a little planning.
Dropping 30 pounds may seem like an uphill battle. But how about three pounds?
Saving $5,000 seems impossible. But how about opening up a special savings account and adding $100 each month . . . then watch your savings grow as you get more and more excited! Before you know it, you’ll find more dollars to add to the account and you’ll reach your goal.
You can’t do it all, but what can you do?
So often we accept defeat because we can’t reach our goal immediately. So we give up. We settle into the same old patterns and don’t make progress. But when you start moving forward toward your aspirations and dreams, then an inner change takes place. You gain momentum. You make different choices. You set defeat aside and start enjoying hope and progress.
Zechariah 4:10 speaks to this very issue, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”
Every journey begins with the first step. Every structure is built with that first cornerstone. Every dream is realized because it started with a first action.
So what is one thing you want? And then what can you do to take the “small beginning?”
Now here is the really cool thing that happens when we decide to get unstuck and start to take action: joy springs up in our soul. And then we start to experience that peace and rest that Jesus tells us about. It’s there waiting for us . . . if we choose to take action.
True, you may not be able to do or have it all right now, but what can you do? The choice to take action it yours. And the Lord is there to bless you and guide you as you continue to move forward!
susan you are blessed with the privilege of blessing others. God bless you. Reading through this I felt like you were addressing me directly . I am that kind of person who sits on the couch and lament because I am overwhelmed . That is the Goliath in my life. I have to start pulling this down by tackling the part I can tackle first/more easily. One of my best topics in your Daniel fast book is “facing the Goliath.” Sorry for wrong quotation. God bless you with longer life and more wisdom.
God is our answer for everything! He is truth and His ways are always the best and right ways. Our part is to follow Him and learn so our minds can be renewed!
Thanks for your message, Comfort!
Thank you Susan. This is actually confirmation to what the Lord has been saying to me. It can be done, but take small steps (small beginnings) with the help of the Lord.
God bless you immensely.
Thank you Susan for your inspirational word – You can’t do it all, but what can I do? I am a little behind in reading my emails but when I saw the one from you I knew I had to read it, glad I did – Just this weekend I was thinking of things I had accomplished because of doing some of the things you have mentioned in your email – I feel this is the Lord speaking to me through you – Just have faith and believe – Better things are to come- Again, thanks so much for everything you do and say- I will continue following the guidelines you mentioned – Love you!
Life takes so much Patience! We are in the middle of a move of my husband’s office after just completing a build and move of our personal house! There is stuff everywhere! I have been packing and sorting for over a year and now MORE STUFF and more trying to figure out where everything should go and how to make things beautiful.. more trips to good will.. more boxes where I just got things cleared out.. Look at all the stuff everywhere and stand there overwhelmed and think, “Just start with one box you know what to do with.” I start with that 1 and then I look around and know what to do with the next one…. ONE, ONE, ONE AT A TIME and you’ll get there if you do not grow weary in well doing!
Words that come from my mouth often are, “Step-by-step and bit-by-bit.”
Praise God!
Thanks Susan, you are an inspiration. I was in the thick of thoughts because I have more things to be done in the next six months. I am so inspired I will focus on what you have shared and work towards it in the next six months
Susan, thank you so much for your encouraging words from the Lord
This message was just what I needed to hear because we all get overwhelmed which makes us feel down at times. I really appreciated this today. I plan to use it to make my life more joyful. It’s so practical for everyone. Thanks Susan and may God bless you today and always!!!
From Evelyn Todd
Thanks a million times for this timely messege…I badly needed and was desperate for this….I came to a point where …the more I thought about my situation ,the more I feel so stuck and helpless………working on the house……my reports etc etc….and yes the words struck me as I read Zechraiah4:10…….start small…..for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin……Therefore I need to begin…….
I am so very blessed.
Thank you for this Word from the Lord! You are absolutely right. I need to take small steps. Feeling overwhelmed right now with a new position at work and my Mom who is 84 and needing more care. That’s not even addressing my own time with the Lord, my family and weight problem, etc… I am encouraged to take little steps where I can. God bless you as you serve Him. Thanks!
Thank you Susan, just what I needed to hear. I tend to fall into the all-or-nothing thought pattern…. your words were the light on my path that reminded me that this is a journey, a marathon… and we only get to the finish line by one step at a time. Zechariah 4:10… what a wonderful nugget of His love and wisdom for us! Thank you Abba Father and thank you Susan for your obedience in sharing! <3
Yes absolutely! I needed to hear this. I set my alarm clock for 4:30 every morning, and I never get up. But I can do a little each day! And to know that the Lord rejoices in what I CAN do (which is through and because of Him of course) makes me happy happy inside!! It motivates me to go on!
Dear Susan,
As my unread emails plie up, I was about to unubscribe to yours as a way to make room in my ‘I need to do better than this’ schedule. So glad I did not unsunscribe . This article was well timed for me and I thank you for it. I have some of your books and followed you for the Daniel diet.
Blessings. Renata
Thank you, Renata!
I am so glad we are still connected! <3
Thank you for your timely advice Susan, as I have a meeting later today about a position within the church. Love Zechariah 4:10, very motivating and inspiring words. We don’t have to do everything at once, but when we take that first step, there is a momentum that builds, which is empowering. Thank you again!
Thanks Susan. We need to be reminded that small steps can lead to bigger things that God has for us. We must trust him because he will never leave nor forsake us. He will equip us to finish the task.
Thanks Susan,I need to hear and to lord to the lord of harvest and what he can do for me. Susan you words is a light unto me today. I have gone through so much this year loosing my sister, other fall break her hip and my house burnt. But I will continue to trust my havenly father he promise never to leave me or forsake. My heart desire is to continue on trusting in his grace. Thanks Marg
Thank you for speaking the Word in due season!!! It can be very frustrating and defeating to answer God’s call and get to work and things just don’t seem to be going right. And it does not look like what you know God is saying it will be. But we can’t blame ourselves, we must wait on God and “not depise the day of small beginnings” and HE will give the increase when we have been “faithful with a little”.
Thank you, Susan, I really appreciate you. You gave me the encouragement not to give up on what I am doing .
Thank you,
Yolanda
God it good, Yolanda!
So glad He wanted you to see this message today!
I’ve been beating myself up because there just doesn’t seem like enough hours of the day for me. Or something I had planned to do for enjoyment gets sidelined because something else gets put in its place. But I can do something small just to get the ball rolling. My heart needed this this morning!
Thank you!
Thank you Susan. This is the encouragement I needed. Trying to change is so overwhelming that I give up before I start. Then the negativity comes to keep me there. But even if I don’t have it now, I can change one thing at a time. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I have realized that the enemy tells me that I should not accept anything less than what I am believing for. Then I get discouraged when it doesn’t come at and give up. But no more!!!!!!! God is great and intentional. He will give me the desires of my heart when I allow Him to order my steps. This shows that I have to rejoice and praise Him for it all because it’s from Him. What greater gift is there than receiving God’s blessings.
Thank you so much it comes fight when I need to hear because life do get a little full
Thank you Susan. I have been procrastinating about some home projects and this was exactly the word I needed. You’re always on point. Your messages are usually just what I need at that moment. Thank you.
I was just about to say the same thing, “Your messages are usually just what I need at that moment.” Small steps, small beginnings, one day at a time…or 10 minutes a day at a time. I know the Lord knows and celebrates my small victories. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Susan, this devotion is food for my soul.
What a freeing verse. Praise God.
I needed this today. God is so good to us. We don’t appreciate it or our salvation. Let us rejoice in him everyday.
Thank you Susan,I am truly encouraged.Your subjects of inspiration and encouragement are truly Holy Spirit-led.I am blessed through this.Thank you for your obedience as many lives like mine are changed.
I needed some inspiration this morning and this is it!
Zechariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”
Every journey begins with the first step. Every structure is built with that first cornerstone. Every dream is realized because it started with a first action.
AMEN! Great and timely word in season for me! Thank you, Susan. God bless you much!!!