Small Beginnings

The Lord has been highlighting bonsai trees over the past week. For example, a bonsai tree stand popped up in our small town for the first time last week. As I was thinking about it, a car drove by with the words “Bonsai Logistics” printed on the side. So what is God saying? As I pondered it, my Bible reading took me to Zechariah: So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. "What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. "Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Zechariah 4:6-10 There are many who are in “the day of small things”. You’ve been trying to PUSH for exponential growth and have been left with a fraction of the outcome you had hoped for. Whether it’s people, money, or accomplishments you’re counting, God wants you to NOT see smallness right now as failure. Just as in Zechariah, the smallness comes before mountains being LEVELED (which is no small thing!) and it all being done by God’s power and effort... not a doubling of your own. What is happening if you are in “small times” is the foundation is being laid. You may have visions of the capstone, and these visions are not incorrect. The completion will be all God has spoken. But just as a foundation in the natural doesn’t look the same as a capstone, neither will these seasons look the same. God knows the LOGISTICS (which is defined as "the detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies.”) There is such complexness in His planning that your mighty oak may look like a small bonsai now, but it was not made to stay small. Looking deeper into this bonsai symbolism was fascinating. Bonsais are kept small because they are kept IN A BOX or planter and constantly pruned back both at the roots and above ground. What are ways spiritually you’ve kept your boundaries more shallow than God’s fullness for you? Bonsais are made to have the APPEARANCE of the full size tree but be kept much smaller. The seeds are actual full size trees. They have the same potential a large tree does. But because of the boxing in and pruning they may look similar to their intended form but are much smaller. What in your life have you assumed is in its fullness? What if there’s more? Begin asking God where in your life has had the appearance of fullness but has only just begun. Don’t despise the days of smallness. But also do not stay there. Let your roots grow “out of the box” in this next season. You are beginning to take your shape, but you will be much bigger. Let the Lord lovingly prune you, but do not trim back more on top of what He is doing. You may be cutting off what was intended for growth. Let Him do the pruning. Don’t be satisfied in the “miniature” version- expect growth and hold hope for the fullness of your destiny, but also appreciate and enjoy the smallness, knowing it came to pass and not to stay. Let your “numbers” be grown at His pace. It is perfect. Trying to speed it up or slow it down has caused extra distress that’s unnecessary. You were made to start here, but you will not stay here.