It's just a small thing

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 NIV

Sometimes when I think about the actual power of God I imagine what I think is possible. I then think God must be able to do an even better version of that. It is funny because in the verse above, I am told it will be more than I can imagine, but I still try to imagine.

This past summer we got a real-life demonstration of this. Our son started volunteering at a local group home. We wanted to do this for several reasons but went in hopeful that he would learn about work. Work is important and necessary, although not always enjoyable. Some jobs challenge our ability. Some jobs are simply done to pay the bills.

I noticed something fairly quick, no one there ever asked me what all he could do. No one assumed anything. I went there with him each week to help just in case. New situations are not always easy, but what can look and sound like a bad reaction can just be his way of adjusting. I found myself watching in absolute shock.

He worked outside, which is not normally his strong point. Early on we had an opportunity to pick blackberries. To do it you had to reach back into the plant to find the fruit. White butterflies started flying out from the branches. These have always been difficult for him. At times the word panic could be used to describe his reaction to them. We have worked at it. At one point a few years ago we even put a butterfly habitat inside our house to try to desensitize him. I was thinking we would not be picking them very long. His new boss just calmly walked up to him and said, “Pick the ones the same color as your blue shirt.” He proceeded to pick about two gallons of blackberries. When he looked at the goal instead of the problem, things changed. I know this sounds like a small thing. It isn’t.

I saw him enter a chicken coop to gather eggs. That sentence alone was beyond my imagination until I saw him do it. There was a lot of noise and a lot of movement. He went in slow and actually removed the ear protection he was wearing for a few seconds. He was curious about the noise. That is another sentence I would have never imagined until I saw it. He decided to wear it but then proceeded to gather a dozen eggs to take home. I know this also sounds like a small thing. It isn’t.

Then his newfound boss upped the stakes. She told me she wanted to teach him to drive. I cannot say that I had never imagined this before, its just that I always imagined it ending in complete disaster. I have the video to prove it, but she coached him through driving a lap around the 35 acre property. I am not sure he could have driven any slower, it took him around 45 minutes to do it, but he did it. I know this is a small thing but is most definitely not.

I remembered something this week. Maybe 10 years ago a friend offered to paint a room in our house. I know that sounds odd, but my friend needed to take his mind off of things. His young son had been having strokes, more than one. His condition was confounding and serious. You know how it is when you cannot think of anything else. The potential problem is just too big. The break was needed. Korbin apparently walked in and picked up a paint roller and put a quick coat of paint on the clothes in my closet (that’s true). But then he took my friends face in his hands to make sure he was paying attention. Korbin honestly has a way of looking into your soul. My verbally non-functioning son proceeded to say, “It’s just a small thing.” No one else on earth could have delivered that message that day because no one on earth delivered that message.

What problem or obstacle is currently in your view?

Is it possible that the solution you imagine is a great deal smaller thing to God?

Challenge: Take a break from your own reality. Go for a walk. Get your hands dirty helping someone. View the challenges of this life through a lens that includes God. He is better than we can imagine.

Rick Claiborn