When Little Is Big Enough
It’s so amazing how God works! Not only has God surrounded me with amazing authors on our Proverbs 31 team, but He’s also connected my heart with some local authors. In fact, a mutual friend introduced Debbie Wilson and I before we ever knew we shared our much-loved agent, Blythe Daniel! It’s a small, small world.
I got the honor to read and endorse Debbie’s wonderful new Bible study based on the women in Jesus’ lineage, and today is it’s release date/birthday. Woot! Hip hip hooray and Hallelujah! I love Little Women, Big God because of all the links Debbie helped me make between timeless stories and modern life. She gave me a fresh look at scripture, and that always inspires me.
Will you help me celebrate with my friend, Debbie? Please welcome her! (And make sure not to miss a chance for her giveaway at the end.)
Have you ever thought, When I have more spiritual knowledge and experience, then I’ll boldly live my faith? The biblical story of Rahab challenges that notion.
Sometimes, those of us blessed with Bible knowledge are tempted to assess our faith by how much we know rather than by what we do with what we know. Rahab had little personal knowledge of the one true living God, but at the risk of her own life, she put every bit of what she knew into practice. God rewarded her bold faith with a place in his Son’s genealogy.
While the Bible commends Rahab for her faith, it demonstrates it was not the size of her faith but the size of her God that saved her. Faith is only as reliable as its object. Let me illustrate.
Thick Versus Thin Ice
One year, our family lived on a small lake in northern Indiana right below the Snowbelt. Coming from southern California, my jaw dropped the first time I saw heavy trucks travel across frozen water. When we moved to Raleigh, my kindergarten-aged son remembered the trucks on the lake. He tried to scoot across a North Carolina pond after only a few days of freezing weather. Thankfully, he fell through at the shallow edge. Great faith in thin ice won’t hold up a child.
The thickness of the ice, not the driver’s faith, held up the truck in Indiana. Rahab’s faith worked because of a great God, not because of the size of her faith, the depth of her knowledge, or the breadth of her experience.
Experience Versus Action
Thirty-eight years before Rahab’s heroic act of hiding Israel’s spies, twelve other Hebrew spies personally witnessed God’s miracles in Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. Despite their impressive personal experiences, these men focused on the size of their enemy instead of the faithfulness of their God and shrank back in fear.
Physical senses are unreliable indicators of spiritual realities. These men measured their chances for success by comparing themselves with their enemies. They should have measured their enemies against their God. Their misplaced faith harmed the loved ones they’d hoped to protect. God closed the Promised Land to that rebellious generation. More knowledge, more experiences, and more time won’t grow passive faith.
Paul wrote: “I know whom I have believed,” not what (2 Tim. 1:12; emphasis mine). Does your faith rely on your experience, feelings, or knowledge? Rahab reminds us, life-changing faith doesn’t depend on the breadth of our experience or the depth of our knowledge, but on the size of our God.
Question: How might applying what you already know enhance the quality of your life and faith?
(excerpted from Little Women, Big God: It’s not the size of your problems, but the size of your God.)
Debbie Wilson wants to celebrate the release of her new book Little Women, Big God: It’s not the size of your problems, but the size of your God with you.
Please leave a comment to enter to win a free copy. If you’re in a hurry, simply say, “I’m leaning on my big God!”
About Debbie:
Debbie W. Wilson is an ordinary woman who has experienced an extraordinary God. Drawing from her personal walk with Christ, twenty-four years as a Christian counselor, and decades as a Bible teacher, Debbie speaks and writes to help women discover relevant faith. She and her husband, Larry, founded Lighthouse Ministries in 1991. They, along with their two grown children and two standard poodles, enjoy calling North Carolina home. Share her journey to refreshing faith at her blog.
“I’M LEANING ON MY BIG GOD”
I’m leaning on my Big God!!
I am leaning on my big God.
I am joyfully leaning on my Big God!
I’m in the midst of experiencing God’s powers in my workplace. My patience and faith has allowed God to show me His way for my life. Thank you for the reminder!
This devotional made me smile. God has been speaking to my heart about Rahab.
I’m leaning on my BIG God! The book sounds intriguing!
I am leaning on My BiG God!
I am leaning on my big God! Amen! And thank you for the giveaway 🙂
I am new to studying the bible and meditating on His Word. I can provide so much testimony about the beauty of applying the little that I know and the more I learn and practice and pray and meditate the more I receive guidance, peace and answered prayers. Do not ever be too timid to take what you know and start talking to God and spreading His word. There is no right or wrong way. God will show you…He is always with you.
Love this concept, would love a copy
It seems I focus more on how BIG the situation is than to focus on my BIG GOD. Even though I know God is able and willing, it is still hard. Thank you for an opportunity to win your book and see things from a different perspective.
“I am leaning on my big God!”
I am leaning on my big God!
I liked what you said, but was disappointed that you did not give credit to the two Israelite spies, Caleb and Joshua, who definitely DID have faith in a big God.
Happy Book Birthday! I have learned in the past year just how Big my God is. A year ago my husband lost his job, I am no longer able to work due to the progression of MS. We lost our only car, our apartment, most of our belongings (because you can only move so much in a POD), our pets (new apartment wouldn’t allow pets). All this happened from Feb 2, 2015 then on September 19th my husband passed away suddenly. Never once did I waiver or bend in my Faith. People would comment how strong I was because I know how big my God is. I can’t wait to read this book. Thank you for the chance to win,
What a great excerpt from Debbie’s book. I’m trusting daily in a BIG God and would love to win a copy of this book for my daughter. I’ve been trying to teach her this principle but this book would really help her to grasp the concept. Thank you for the opportunity!
I am leaning on my big God.
“I know whom I have believed,” and through early widowhood (29 when I buried my husband), raising an autistic son on my own, rape, and other hardships, my BIG God has always been there for me to lean on in a big way. My BIG God has never let me down and has always been faithful to me.
Thanks for the reminder! I will keep leaning on my great big God!
I’m leaning on my big God!
What a wonderful reading today! The excerpt from “Little Women, Big God, reminded me that we have a great God who desires us to know Him, not to store knowledge up and recite to others. I have a lot of “head” knowledge, but desire the “heart” knowledge that will bring me in communion with God and to know Him. His Word reveals who He is and I must apply His Word to my heart. Today I open my being to Him to take in His Word and find joy and peace in His presence.
Telling my children of the bigness of God in the face of the bigness of their fears.
I love “Little Women Big God” and am a little woman leaning and trusting in my big God! My God is so big! So strong and so mighty. There’s nothing my God cannot do !!!!
My God is creator-of-the-universe big, and I rely on Him.
I love the title of your book…and the statement “It’s not the size of your problems but the size of your God! I am leaning on my big God more and more everyday. I know He has plans for me in this life! I’ love growing closer and closer to God everyday,
“I’m leaning on my big God!” He is always here, there, and everywhere. He never leaves me or forsakes me.
I’m leaning on my big God!
What a wonderful reminder that it is all about how big our God is! That we need to have faith in Him alone and trust Him completely. We can step out in faith confidently if He is leading us for He will equip us. Would love to read this inspiring book!
I am so intrigued by the title of your book. I have been a Christian for over 30 years and have often chided myself for having “little faith”. I never considered that my problem was not the size of my faith but the object of my faith. I love the connection with 2 Timothy 1:12. I have read that scripture many times but never really saw it in this light. Thank you!
Wow! This book sounds wonderful! I lead a group of young moms and this would be the perfect study for them to encourage them as they parent their “littles”. Such encouragement for them to know their God loves them and is BIG enough!
Wow! What a beautifully written, intriguing, post! I would love to read your book!! I am in a period of leaning hard on a Big God. I have never been so grateful for Him and His presence and strength.
Sarah, those are the times we discover how Big our God is. The psalmist wrote “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statues” (Ps. 119:71). It is amazing how sweet He is in those times. Bless you.
This sounds like an exciting and challenging book. Thanks for sharing!
I feel like even the smallest amount of faith makes a big difference. I do still feel like I am new to bring knowledgeable, but you have to start somewhere. Thanks for the encouragement. I would love to win your book.
I am leaning on my BIG God! I would love to win a copy of this book.
So thankful I have a Big God to lean on!
I’m leaning on God and authors who stretch my knowledge of our wonderful Bible.
What a great reminder. I find myself worried I do not know enough so I do not say. This makes me want to know more and act with the knowledge I do know.
I am leaning on MY BIG GOD!
I am leaning and trusting in my Big God!
I know I have limited my faith based on what I’ve seen or experienced and have missed so much. Placing this book on my wish list.
What a great reminder that we can depend on our infinite God and not our finite selves.
This book sounds wonderful! I’m learning to lean on my Big God more every day.
I would love for my Bible Study group to study this book and discuss.
Debbie, I can’t think of a better way to fellowship with God’s people than discussing how God speaks to us in Bible study. I am planning to do a conference call some time with those who want to lead a study. You can contact me on my website if you are interested.
I am excited to experience this book. When I find new ways to apply the bible to my everyday life I feel like I can conquer anything. I am leaning on my big God because with him, ALL things are possible. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.
This sounds like a great book for me to read….I’m a single mom with little to no child support coming in, but when funds are tight, and my autistic son’s struggles seem too huge to manage, I remember how my loving God has sustained us in the past, and I thank Him in advance for the protections and blessings I know are to come in the future. He is an awesome God!
Janet, I know your faith pleases Him. He has promised that those who trust in Him will never be disappointed. Your story reminds me of the biblical character of Ruth. God bless.
I need to release more to God and trust that he is bigger than any situation I am experiencing. I love to read along with women of faith. They inspire me to be gently strong and have courage. Thank you for your ministry and would love to read this book!
I would love to win a copy. I struggle to trust God when things aren’t going the way I expected. I know in my heart God is in control, but I am such a control freak that I always seem to think God needs my help. And then I usually create a mess. Looking forward to reading about the women who trusted and relied on our big God. Blessings for an awesome “birth”day!
I love the title of your book. We never or I should say I never realize how Big God is until I need Him. He’s always there for me. I want to learn to go to Him first before I exalt every avenue first. I’d get a lot more done in less time or less trouble. Good luck on your book and thanks for the giveaway. Bless you. Sharon
Sharon, I think you’ve just described a common human tendency. I believe that is one reason He allows trials to touch us. They draw us to Him where we find real security and satisfaction. God bless!
“I’m leaning on my big God”
I would like to win this book “Little Women Big God” I leaning on my big God.