“Little by Little”
The title above is a phrase similar to just, “Take one step at a time.” Both of these indicate there are things in life that only come to completion over time. One thing most people have in common is impatience. We tend to want things done yesterday!
God told Moses, “I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you” (Exodus 23:21-22).
Note the words in verse (30), “Little by little I will drive them (their enemies) out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.” “Little by little!” Do you believe God could have wiped their enemies off the map a single stroke? Of course you do! But He didn’t.
We want immediate responses from God, but often He chooses to move “little by little?” Perhaps the answer has more to do about us, than Him. Not all of God’s solutions are instantaneous, but delay does not mean He’s not working. Maybe, just maybe, God is using the crisis, so we refocus on Him.
Like the Israelites, God wants our obedience. His Spirit is here to comfort, lead, and protect us. We know His promises, but maybe He allows trials and disappointments as a means of building our faith. When we’re absolutely helpless, who do we turn to? Tell me the last time you experienced a serious situation, and I’ll show when your dependency upon the Lord was most evident.
Pastor Carnes
