Devotionals for the Heart: How taking a small step led to my big adventure

How Adventures with God Begin with Small Steps
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

—Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

Everything changed when I stepped on the plane to Korea, but I didn’t know it yet. I thought I was going to teach English for a couple of years. Instead, I met my husband, and started to put down roots in a country I had no original plan to settle in. God led me on a course I had not imagined!

What meaningful experience in your life started as one simple step of faith?

Big changes most often begin as small decisions. A single step forward, following God’s prompting, may lead to an entirely new path. Yet, it can be tempting to downplay the significance of small things.

We might look at some of the more dramatic stories of the Bible—a burning bush, a pillar of fire, a thundering voice from heaven—and wish for similarly clear signs. We want to know for sure that something important is happening, that we are going in the right direction, or that we are embarking on a momentous journey.

However, God doesn’t always give us bold indications of what He is up to, what will happen next, or exactly how He is leading us. Instead, adventures with God often begin with ordinary moments and quiet—but brave—decisions.

Consider the story of David. In his life, a series of seemingly small choices and events led to something significant. In 1 Samuel 16-17, we see that David was the youngest in his family and a humble shepherd. His older brothers were fighting with the King of Israel against the Philistines. One day, David’s father told him to take some food to his brothers on the battlefield. While he was dropping off the supplies, David overhead Goliath taunting the Israelite army, and he couldn’t stand it.

He decided to fight the giant, finding courage in how God helped him rescue his sheep from lions and bears in the past. Then, he chose to fight armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling instead of using the king’s heavy armor.

David triumphed over Goliath and the Philistines fled. This led to David being appointed as a wildly successful army officer under King Saul…which then led to Saul’s jealousy…which led to David’s fugitive years in the wilderness where he wrote many of the Psalms that speak so deeply to our hearts today. Eventually, David became the king of Israel and an ancestor of Jesus Christ. And to think that all this began with David faithfully carrying out a simple, humble task for his family!

David went from a lowly shepherd to a celebrated king, whose story is still told thousands of years later. I’m sure David never imagined that course for his life, but God guided him into miracles and adventures he had not foreseen, one step at a time.

Just as how David’s ordinary lunch delivery ended in the slaying of a giant, we may never know how one moment could completely change our lives. We can’t see the future, but God can. He knows where He is leading us. Each single step we take in following God is important.

Remember, the Bible says in Zechariah 4:10 (NLT), “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”

May you be encouraged today that the little things matter—whether you are carrying out your regular responsibilities, or whether you are making a small, faith-filled decision to turn in a new direction. God will establish your steps and lead you on.

Let’s Pray: Father God, it’s amazing to think that my ordinary faithfulness and my small steps in following You can lead to beautiful outcomes that I can’t imagine yet. When I don’t always sense that something important is happening, or see immediate results from my efforts, help me to still be faithful in the small things. I know You are directing the course of my life. Help me to trust You, Lord, with every step I take. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Say Yes” by Josh Wilson. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Increase My Faith” by Brian Courtney Wilson. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “He Leadeth Me” by Reawaken Hymns. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Walk by Faith” by Jeremy Camp. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “I Know the Plans (Audrey’s Song)” by Dámaris Carbaugh. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Lead Me Lord” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir with w/ Elizabeth Goodine. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

~*~
Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: When God challenges you to change you

Learning to Surrender to God’s Process
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”—1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)

I squirmed on the massage table as my massage therapist’s nimble hands stretched and kneaded each sore spot in my shoulders and neck. “Relax, relax,” she instructed me with a chuckle.

“I’ll do my best,” I laughed, trying to focus on deep, calming breathes even as my hands gripped the side of the bed. I knew that the therapist was working to help me. She had to get out my knots and stiffness. I knew that tightening my body against her pressure was only hurting me more. But it wasn’t easy to surrender to the process.

The next morning, as I stretched out my sore neck, a thought suddenly sprang into my mind: “How often do I struggle against God’s hand, just as I did during the massage?”

God’s hand in Scripture symbolizes His power, discipline, protection, blessing, and direction. However, the process of His leading and teaching can sometimes be uncomfortable—even painful—for us.

There are moments when God needs to get the “knots” out of my character. He wants to tackle my pride, my self-sufficiency, and my fear. I’m sure you can think of some traits of your own that God is challenging and changing. It would be nice to wake up one morning, feeling magically more patient, gracious, or courageous. But this change doesn’t usually happen overnight. Instead, God allows us to go through circumstances that require us to make choices, experience repentance and grace, and grow our character little by little.

Besides moments of God’s training and discipline, there are times when I sense God leading me somewhere I’m reluctant to go. Obeying God might put me into some difficult situations, that bring me to the end of myself and stretch my faith. Following God might challenge me to love and minister in ways that are outside my natural comfort zone. When God works in our lives in this way, the process isn’t always easy. But it is always for our good.

Isaiah describes God as a potter. If you’ve ever seen a potter at work, you know how literally hands-on they are as they craft their wares. Isaiah 64:8 (NLT) says, “O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.”

But Isaiah also describes how God’s creations sometimes try to fight back against their Maker. He says in Isaiah 45:9 (NLT), “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’”

God’s hand wants to stretch me, shape me, and ultimately make me into something beautiful. If I resist Him, I’m only making things harder for myself! Isaiah makes it clear that resistance ends in sorrow.

Hebrews 12:6, 11 (NLT) says, “For the Lord disciplines those He loves…No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

The promise of a peaceful harvest of goodness and righteousness to come can help us learn to surrender to God’s hand in our lives. God loves us. He is working all things together for good.

Where might you be resisting God today? Where are you struggling under His hand? I encourage you to surrender. Don’t make the process of spiritual growth harder for yourself by fighting against it! There is a beautiful harvest of peace and righteousness, and a closer relationship with God, awaiting you.

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

Thank You for being our Maker. Thank You for guiding us through this life on Earth, blessing us abundantly, and disciplining us with your Hand. Help us not to resist You, but rather to submit to You. Help us to feel peace and joy in surrender, knowing that You are working for our good. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~
Song of Reflection #1: “I Surrender All” by Carrie Underwood. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Lead Me On” by Chandler Moore. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” by Lynda Randle. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

~*~
Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: How to find beauty in the winter seasons of life

Finding Beauty in Our Winters
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

—Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

“It’s snowing, Teacher!” My students bounced into the classroom, their young faces bright with smiles. Melting flakes dripped onto the floor from their boots.

“Really?” I looked outside with a shiver. I wasn’t as excited as the children. The snow meant an icy commute home!

In fact, as the winter dragged on, I was finding it harder to appreciate snowfalls. It felt like all I could see was endless grey, black, and brown. Muddy sidewalks, stark trees, towering grey apartment buildings. I missed green! I missed beauty!

A thought suddenly came to me: “Perhaps you’re looking for beauty in the wrong places. There is beauty in winter, even if it’s a different beauty to summer.” The thought felt like a playful challenge from God. How could I widen my perspective?

On my commute the next day, I looked out the train window at the trees and fields. Yes, they were brown and bare. But the branches made striking shapes and patterns against the vibrant blue sky. Tall, golden grasses waved at the edges of the fields. They glowed when the sunlight hit them just right. Even the endless browns had variegated shades. There was beauty here, after all; I just needed the eyes to see it.

Some seasons of our lives feel like winter—long, cold, bleak, seemingly unproductive. We may miss the beauties and abundance we experienced in our “spring” or “fall.” But what if God is inviting us to look again and find hidden gifts and loveliness in this season?

Winter is a time of rest and retreat for the Earth, and there is a beauty in that. We, too, need time to slow down, contemplate, and refresh our energies, especially in harder seasons. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) reminds us that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Perhaps in this winter, God is inviting you to pause. Jesus Christ’s invitation to His disciples then could also be an invitation to you now. He said in Mark 6:31 (NIV), “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

As much as there is beauty in slowing down, it may feel frustrating to experience disruption to our plans and productivity. But God can give us new opportunities in winter.

The apostle Paul experienced a literal “wintering” on his way to Rome. His ship faced winds and storms as the crew searched for a suitable harbor to winter in (Acts 27:1-26). Eventually, after lost time and even a dramatic shipwreck, Paul and the other passengers and sailors arrived in Malta (Acts 27:27 – Acts 28:2). The islanders showed them “unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2). Paul healed the sick father of the island’s chief and then healed all the other sick islanders too (Acts 28:7-9). And, as Luke reports in Acts 28:10 (NIV), the islanders “honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.”

Even though the winter storm threw the ship off course, this disruption ultimately led to blessings for both Paul and the islanders. What unexpected blessing—or opportunities to bless others—might be waiting in the disruptions of our winter?

Winter may indeed seem bleak at times, but there are gifts here still, because the Creator makes everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Let’s Pray: Father God, winter feels long and frustrating. Sometimes it’s hard to see goodness in this season. Renew our perspective! Open our eyes to the beauty and blessings that you have prepared for us even here. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Winter Snow” by Chris Tomlin feat. Audrey Assad. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “In His Time” by Maranatha Music. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Shelter” by Pat Barrett. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

~*~
Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: How to rely on and rest in God's love for you

Resting in God’s Love
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.”

—1 John 4:16 (NIV)

“Let’s just go home,” I gulped to my husband as I looked at the line of people at the driving test center. My already fragile courage started to give way at the thought of a long wait and the potential for grumpy, overwhelmed employees. “We can come back another day.”

I had come to the center to do the paperwork for my Korean driver’s license. I hate doing paperwork in my own country, the United Kingdom, so I was even more anxious about administration in a language I only partly understood.

What if I missed something important? What if I didn’t understand and someone got snappy with me? What if I filled out something wrong and they refused to give my license? Thankfully, I could rely on my Korean husband to help me. With his help to translate, I completed all the paperwork without incident. My dire imaginings, which had loomed large in my mind, did not materialize.

In the same way I rely on my husband’s love to get me through the anxiety of administration in a foreign country, I can rely on the love of God to guide me through life’s other anxieties. My worries can be loud. It can be so easy to fixate on the problem, even in my prayers. I may be directing my words to God, but my mind is whirling, trying to figure out its own solutions and guess the ways God might help me, based on what I can see.

What if, instead of focusing on my problems, I turned my gaze towards God more often? The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV), “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” (Italics supplied.) I can leave my cares with God more easily when I remind myself of His character, choosing to focus on His love in my prayers.

Instead of reminding God constantly about my need, I remind myself of His goodness by saying, “Lord, I know that You love me. I know that Your ways are higher than mine, and that You are creative beyond my imagination. You are faithful. You see me. You promised to provide for me. Because of this, I choose to trust You with my problem.”

This is not a “one and done” deal. I often have to repeat this process daily of moving my thoughts from my problems to God’s character. But this intentional shift in focus does help me to rest in His love for me. The Bible says in Psalm 131:2-3 (NIV), “I have calmed and quieted myself. I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” A child can quiet themselves because they are securely attached to their parent, because they trust in their parent’s love. They know, from experience, that their parent will respond to them.

When I am fretful, I remember when Father God responded to me and met my needs. Most of all, I remember when He proved His love in the most significant way He could: through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Bible explains in Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) why we can trust God and have complete confidence in His love for us: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I can rest in this love. I didn’t earn it, and I don’t have to continue to perform for it. This love offered freely by God is unfailing. Even in my lowest moments, when I don’t feel the energy to redirect my thoughts and actively speak truth to myself, I know I can rest in His love.

It is this true and unconditional love from Father God that I always rely on. My friend, when you are anxious, may you have power to renew your mind and fix your gaze on God. May you sink into the love of God and rest there.

Let’s Pray:

 

Dear God, 

Help me to know and rely on your love in deeper ways. 

In Jesus’s Name I pray,

Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “I Will Carry You” by Ellie Holcomb. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” by Audrey Assad (feat. Fernando Ortega). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Will Rest in You” by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

~*~
Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to do what we can for God

Do What You Can
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”—Hebrews 13:16 (NLT)

I came to South Korea as a missionary English teacher.

I viewed my classroom as a ministry because I wasn’t merely teaching vocabulary and conversation; I was loving the children in my care, praying for them and teaching them about God. In my local English-speaking international church, I was often up front of the congregation, leading out vespers and Bible studies, and speaking from time to time.

Then I got married and moved to a new city in South Korea. My husband was a church leader, and the church we attended was not an English-speaking one. It was a difficult transition. I spoke only a little Korean, and living with the language barrier felt like losing my voice. I could no longer communicate well and do all the up-front things I was used to. I was still teaching English during the week. But on the weekend, I felt like my opportunities for ministry had been taken away.

However, God convicted me that instead of feeling mired down in what I couldn’t do, I should focus on what I could do. It was okay to grieve my felt losses, but He still had ways that I could minister.

I could operate the computer and click the slides on the PowerPoint presentation during worship. I could lead a Bible study discussion on the rare occasions when we had English-speaking guests. I could teach the children some English praise songs. I could wash dishes. I could pray for my husband and the church. I could simply be present.

These tasks were not glamourous. They weren’t always in my comfort zone, either. Yet God reminded me that small, unseen tasks are still ministry.

Sometimes we may feel that our efforts don’t count unless they’re up-front, noticeable and grand in some way. Sometimes we may feel that we don’t have enough to offer someone else—enough skill, enough time, enough talent.

However, as the hymn “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” encourages us:

“Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,

Do not wait to shed your light afar;

To the many duties ever near you now be true,

Brighten the corner where you are.”

The Bible tells the story of a hungry crowd who were listening to Jesus speak (John 6:1-15). Jesus was mindful of their physical as well as spiritual needs. Let’s read about this Bible story via the text below:

“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Jesus asked (John 6:5 NIV). Philip answered, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (John 6:7 NIV)

However, there was boy in the crowd with five small barley loaves and two small fish. This was not an impressive lunch. It would have been easy for the boy to think, “What’s the point of offering this? It’s too small and too simple to feed so many.” It would have been easy for him to fixate on what he couldn’t offer. In fact, when Andrew (a disciple) brought the boy to Jesus, he said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:9 NIV)

Yet the boy gave what he could, and Jesus took those five small loaves and two small fish and used them to feed thousands of hungry people. He can do the same with what we give to Him. No matter how small, simple, and “not enough” our offerings may be, He can multiply them to bless many others.

The small boy did what he could. May we, too, do what we can.

Let’s Pray: Father God, sometimes I focus on what I can’t do. I compare myself to others, or even to how I was in the past, and think that I don’t have enough to offer You. Yet You still empower me to serve—even in simple, hidden ways. Help me to see what I can do through Your strength. Teach me how to have the faith to put my small gifts in Your hands to multiply. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” by Ella Fitzgerald. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Available” by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Little is Much” by Downhere. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

~*~
Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should invite God into our imagination

Inviting God into My Imagination
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? … So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.”—Matthew 6:27, 31-32 (NLT)

I sat at the bus stop, watching a tiny old lady pushing a mountain of cardboard on cart down the road. Her back was bent almost double, but her arms were strong. She seemed unfazed as she pushed the tower of flattened boxes toward the recycling center around the corner, where she would get a meager amount of money for her hard work.

I noticed another elderly lady fishing tin cans out of trash bags on the side of the road. She could also take these to the recycling center and receive a little money. In my opinion, these old ladies should be resting, after their long years of hard work. But in fact, many older people cannot afford to rest. They still need income, and the unpleasant task of collecting recyclables is one way they can get it.

As I watched this scene, that I had observed so many times before, I started to worry about growing old in Korea. This country has the highest rate of old-age poverty in the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). My heart often aches for the grandmas and grandpas I see doing menial, labor-intensive tasks to try and make ends meet.

As a foreigner married to a Korean, the prospect of old age in Korea makes me anxious at times. I spent an evening tossing and turning in bed, wondering if we would be similarly poor and struggling when we reached old age. Depressing visions and statistics danced through my head.

The next morning, I turned on my devotional app to listen as I got ready for the day. Suddenly, a couple of verses jumped out at me: “Now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.” (Psalm 71:9 NLT)

God’s Word (The Holy Bible) says that He cared for us since we were born. God says, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” (Isaiah 46:3-4 NLT)

They were such appropriate verses for the previous night’s worries! It felt like a nudge from God not to be afraid, but to include Him in my imagination of what the future could look like.

Of course, I have no idea where I will be or what I’ll be doing by the time I reach retirement age. I know that every country has its own problems; even if I went back to my home country of the United Kingdom, I would face challenges. I know that life shifts and changes.

So, instead of creating a gloomy image of a future that may or may not come to pass, I can focus my thoughts on the God who promises to care for me throughout my lifetime. And that is what I invite you to do, too. Turn your thoughts and your imagination toward the God who loves you.

None of us know exactly what the future will hold. There seems to be a lot to worry about—whether we’re anxious about our old age, job situation, health, family, or something else. It can be all too easy to let our imagination go down dark paths, thinking of worst-case scenarios, wondering how we can take care of ourselves if such and such happens, and completely forgetting the promises of God. In those moments, let’s invite God into our imagination. Let’s ask Him to give us a vision of the future that includes His promises to guide, provide, and care for us.

Let’s Pray: Father God, You know the fears and anxieties that we wrestle with often. You know the uncertainties we face in life. But we praise You that we can be sure of your loving presence and care. We bring You our burdens and cast all of our anxieties on You, just as You invite us to do in 1 Peter 5:7. Give us Your peace and light up the dark places in our imaginations. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Like You Love Me” by Tauren Wells. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Bill & Gloria Gaither. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

~*~
Connect with Lynette:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordsforwanderers/
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: When you feel like your life is too small

Your Life is Not Too Small
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.”

—1 Corinthians 1:28 (NLT)

“My life is too small now,” I thought to myself as I looked out the subway window on my way to work. Brown wintry trees and tall grey apartment buildings seemed to mirror my dull spirit.

When I first moved to South Korea to teach English, the excitement of my new adventure ensured that I spent every spare moment exploring. I delighted in visiting colorful palaces, walking the narrow streets between traditional “hanok” houses, finding cute cafes, and taking in mountains, parks, and beaches. As I went through the highs and lows of adapting to my work and new surroundings, I felt I had plenty to write about or post on social media.

However, a couple of years and a wedding later, I found myself figuring out how to “settle down” in Korea. Life became “normal.” I got into a routine of home and work responsibilities. I didn’t have the same time or energy for always going out as I once did, and somehow my life began to feel too small and ordinary. Was there anything truly meaningful in my story now?

I grew up as a Third Culture Kid (TCK)—moving between numerous cities and even countries during my younger years—and I knew that many other TCKs also struggled with perceived smallness or stillness when they tried to settle down after many years of going to and fro. I knew it could be hard to adopt a different, slower rhythm of life.

But as I made my way to work that day, a question rose up inside me: “Who gets to decide what ‘small’ is, anyway?” I felt God whisper to my heart, “Slow, small, settled, or still does not equal ‘meaningless.’”

The things that we might consider small and even unimportant are not so to God. For example, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 25:40 (NIV), “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Luke 16:10 (NIV) reminds us, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

And then there is the story of the boy with five barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:1-13). His small lunch fed thousands because he was willing to offer the little that he had to Jesus.

It’s important to note Ephesians 5:2 (NLT) where the Apostle Paul writes, “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” Jesus spent most of His life on Earth in obscurity, doing the humble work of a carpenter before He stepped into public ministry. Perhaps our ordinary days—without adventurous thrills or social media validation—are the best way to learn how follow Christ’s example and to live a life filled with love. As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

So, that day on the subway, I put aside my inner grumblings. I went to teach my English classes with a renewed perspective. I hoped that my students wouldn’t just learn new grammar and vocabulary, but that they would smile, and that they would feel the love and interest of God flowing through me to them. Then I went home and loved my husband by preparing bowls of sliced fruit and putting clean socks in the drawer. These ordinary tasks, this unglamourous day, still held value in learning how to love.

Friend, if you too are sometimes tempted to feel that your life is too small or ordinary, remember that your life makes ripples of loving impact that go on and on, no matter what your day looks like. That is no small thing.

Let’s Pray: Lord, teach us to look at our lives through Your perspective. You care about sparrows and lilies and the hair on our heads. May we too value seemingly small things. Help us to see that our most ordinary days, our most unexciting tasks, and our apparently slow or small life seasons, still hold purpose and meaning. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Dream Small” by Josh Wilson. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Little is Much” by Downhere. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

~*~
Connect with Lynette:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordsforwanderers/
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/