Small vs Insignificant

ByD'Ann Mateer
24 Comments

I feel like I lead such a small life these days. My small condo in a small city. A small group of friends. Working on small writing projects, small crochet projects. So much smallness that I often think I have nothing worthwhile to say to y’all.

But is that true? Do we have to have a big life, do big things, in order to earn the right to speak? Our culture tends to tell us yes. We have to have a big following online. Or big book sales numbers. Or hundreds who show up to hear us speak. As if the number of those who hear validates what we say.

Because of this kind of thinking, I often equate small with insignificant. I looked up both words in the dictionary the other day. Small refers to a limitation in size, especially as compared to something else. Whereas insignificant means unimportant, without consequence or meaning.

If I go to Scripture, God is constantly using small lives. The first king of Israel was called from the smallest tribe. David was anointed king though he was the smallest (youngest) in his home. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was small in the eyes of her community, just a girl, not even married yet. Peter and the other disciples chosen by Jesus led small lives, no authority or fame was theirs to claim. The list of examples goes on and on and on.

And not only does God give us examples of how He can use small lives for His glory, He speaks directly to those of us who define our lives as small. I love Psalm 115:13, He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. And Isaiah 60:22, The smallest one will become a clan, and the least one a mighty nation. God doesn’t ask us to be lead big lives. He asks us to trust Him, to live the life He’s given us to live and allow Him to display His glory through us, whether on a small stage or a larger one.

And so I choose to live in that truth today.

My personal and professional life are definitely small, especially as compared o many others I know. But when I really look at my days—look at them through the lens of what God sees and what He deems important—I know my small life isn’t insignificant. I encourage my small group of friends, whether face-to-face or via phone calls or texts. My small schedule is flexible, allowing me to offer help when someone needs it, to be an answer to their prayers. My small home is tidy and quiet, making it a respite for my busy husband. The small things I create—whether a short story or a baby blanket or a pair of slippers—bless those who receive them.

But even more than this, my life has significance because the God of the universe declares it to be so.

Is that a truth God is reminding you of these days? Please share!

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Inspired by novelist Eugenia Price, D’Ann’s dream of writing historical fiction with an element of faith began in middle school, though her serious drive toward publication took a bit longer. D’Ann is the author of four historical novels and one novella, as well as a contemporary short stories in a compilation volume. D’Ann and her husband of 30 years can be found in Austin, TX when they aren’t touring historic sites or visiting their grown children.

24 Comments

  5. Wonderful thoughts today, Anne. I was inwardly amen-ing so many of your statements. This one in particular really resonated with me, “God doesn’t ask us to be lead big lives. He asks us to trust Him, to live the life He’s given us to live and allow Him to display His glory through us, whether on a small stage or a larger one.”

    It reminds me of one of my favorite verses from 2 Timothy 2:20-21. “In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary. All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work.”

    Vessels of wood and clay are just as valuable as those of gold and silver. Both have their use and purpose. In fact, if you think about your own house and your everyday dishes vs. your fine china, I would go so far as to say that more use is made of the ordinary vessels than the fancy. What matters is that we are in the master’s hand – dedicated and useful and ready for every good work.

    1. Very insightful, Karen! I bet you’d make a great writer. 😉

      BTW, I read your two “More Than” books last week and really enjoyed them.

      1. Ha! Thanks, Sherri. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed the Patchwork Family books. The final installment is a novella coming this November called More Than a Pretty Face. (I had a lot of fun with those “More Than” titles.) It’s part of the Harvey House Brides collection entitled Serving Up Love.

    2. Great point, Karen! If only the clay pots could look at the gold and silver vessels and not wish to be different than they were created to be! Always a struggle for me, but so very glad God knows and continues to remind me that He is just as pleased with his vessels of clay.

  6. I couldn’t agree with you more. I think we often get caught up in the comparison game and think that our contribution can’t be as significant as someone with more fame or recognition. But it is God who deems who it is we, as individuals and authors, will reach. And if it’s only one, then He will use it for His glory.

  7. Wow! Very encouraging! Yet, God is the only one who truly sees our heart no matter how “big” our life is. That’s the key, if we live for Him – nothing else really matters because He leads us. ❤️

  8. Thanks for the great post. It reminds me of this verse.

    “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
    ‭‭Micah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/111/mic.6.8.niv

  9. Hi Anne,
    You are not small to me. I’ve followed you as your family has grown, as you’ve downsized and changed your life. Your example of humility and acceptance has been very big to me. I used to think I was big enough to do anything, but age, reality and writing has humbled me to the point that I sometimes feel very small and insignificant. After all, in a vast sea of writers, am I not a tiny pebble tossed into it, to be lost and unknown? Yet I know God has given me stories to write, and although I may not ever be big in the writing world, I can be big enough to matter to someone else and hopefully to inspire the readers who find my books. Thank you for reminding me that no matter how small I may feel, I am still important to God and His purpose.

  10. I love this! Such a good reminder. And so well written. Definitely NOT small!

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