Little Things & Losing My Chill

I sometimes think the little things in life are so much harder to handle gracefully than the large, looming things.

A bad haircut.

Getting cut off in traffic.

Having to listen to a boring story for the fifth time and pretend like you haven’t heard it.

Drama at work.

Whereas the looming, weighty things of life tend to be defining in our lives, marking time and providing satisfaction when handled well, the little things aren’t. They’re minute, boring, and daily. People typically don’t notice if we handle them well, or if we completely lose every bit of chill when they come around.

But God does.

When Jesus was telling a parable about some wise and unwise servants, and how they handled their master’s affairs in his absence, he gave a powerful statement:

“He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.” (Luke 16:10, ASV)

Folks, how we react to the little things dictates how we react to the weighty things of life. The little things of life aren’t just practice-they are character builders. They are what the Spirit uses to make us more and more Christlike.

I would be the first to tell you (in an effort to beat my family to it) how hard it is for me to handle the little things well. I’m Type A to the core, a list maker, a scheduler, and not very patient to boot. Losing my chill comes very naturally, and it’s not something that makes me proud.

Over the past few years, God has been working on me, helping me grow in patience toward and understanding of how the little things of life are disciplining me to handle the great things.

After all, how will I ever be a patient leader if I can’t be patient toward my own family first? How will I ever be diplomatic and godly in a position of authority if I can’t navigate drama in the workplace in a Christlike and kind manner? How can I preach Christ’s love to the world if I don’t first learn to love those in my life well, even when they’re killing my last nerve?

Yes, how we handle the little things in our walk with Christ is practice for how we will handle the greater things. God sees all; don’t become discouraged or frustrated in your efforts to live life well in all things. After all, those who handle little faithfully will handle much faithfully.