One Small Step

 “Beginnings can be hard. Trying to build up the courage and momentum to take that first step can feel daunting, especially after a long break. I find that if I can just break through and make that first stroke, the reward is tremendously satisfying.“ -Angela Durst

Color Study for Rose of Sharon (comp 1), 2023 

oil painting on canvas

8” x 10”

I shared this sentiment in a post over a year ago. The post was entitled: A Single Snowy Tree and, for me, the statement is still so true. I feel like this is one of those special art concepts that extends to other areas of life - maybe it’s beginning a new painting; or maybe it’s the beginning of a new job; learning a new skill; heck, even striking up a conversation with someone new can be tricky! Whatever the new “it” is, beginnings are just hard sometimes. But that doesn’t mean they are impossible. It doesn’t mean that the task itself is impossible. It doesn’t even mean that the task will be difficult forever. Sometimes we just need a little nudge to get over that first hump.

On my blog, I have chatted pretty openly with you guys about my struggle with procrastination. I once heard it said that “procrastinators are closet perfectionists.” This is certainly true for me. I am a very detail-oriented person and can get lost in the nit-picky nuances of a task, sometimes before I have even begun it! There are times when just envisioning how I would execute a project can be enough to run my brain ragged and wear me out. 

There are other days though that I’m pretty sure the source of my inability to initiate is good old-fashioned laziness. I simply get a bad case of the “I-don’t-wannas.” And there are still other days that I’m pretty sure the culprit is the Enemy (A.K.A. the Devil). He whispers in my ear and tells me lies like, “it’s too hard” or “it will take soooo long and you just don’t have that kind of time” or my personal favorite, “the conditions have to be just perfect… and they’re not so you should probably just call it a day. Why don’t you sit back and watch another episode [of whatever].” 

I referred to that last lie as my “favorite” because it appeals to both my inner perfectionist and my lazy inner couch-potato. I hate to admit it, but there are days where I agree with him. I say, “ok” and just give up before I start.  Thank God that The Lord’s mercies are new every morning!  And thank God that I have the power of the Holy Spirit living in me! Just when I feel that I’ve backslid too far, that I’ve let practice go too long, that I’m too deep into my slump and there is no way out, the Holy Spirit gently nudges me and says, “hey, it’s ok. I’ll help you just get up and try again. What you do is important, don’t stop.” It’s times like these when God nudges me awake, and reminds me that I don’t have to do it alone, that I am so very grateful that I have the Holy Spirit riding shotgun!

God has given each of us important things to do. Sometimes these things don’t seem all that “big” or important by human standards but let me tell you, Jehovah God can do amazing things with tiny things (see: mustard seed - Mark 4:30-32). God has a master-plan and every single one of us has an important role to play. You are integral. You are special and only you can fulfill your calling. Did you know that you are critical to God’s plan for the world?! Pretty cool huh? But before you collapse under the magnitude of that reality, know this: God doesn’t expect us to do these important things all by ourselves. He doesn’t just drop the huge responsibility and pressure of a world-altering destiny in our lap and say, “peace out” and leave us twisting in the wind. No! God has sent us an “ever present helper” - someone to guide us, to encourage us, to equip us, and even to pray for us. This person is a part of God Himself and He is known as the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit’s help extends beyond simple pep-talks. He is more than just a “cheerleader,” He actually imparts special gifts and abilities. These gifts are both natural things and supernatural things that we could not do on our own. 

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He gave his disciples (or followers) things to do. Some of these things were basic like, “love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:39) and humble yourselves and serve one another in love (John 13:4-17). While these things may be tricky sometimes, one could argue that they are not all-together impossible to do with our human abilities.  Then we get to the “tough stuff” - forgive those who sin against you (Matthew 6:14) and “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, NIV). Ok, now we are wading into some seriously counterintuitive territory. Jesus also gave His followers two very specific assignments or “commissions.” Number one: “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8, NIV) and number two (this one is often called “the Great Commission”): “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV). Uh-oh, now we’re getting into some superhuman stuff. Raise the dead and cast out demons?! Go to ALL the nations and teach them about you? Ummm… Jesus, a little HELP please?  Fortunately for them (and us), that’s exactly what Jesus did. 

When Jesus gave all these instructions to His disciples, He didn’t just abandon them and say “ok, now go figure it out.” No! Jesus promised them, that when the time came for Him to go away, He would send them a “helper” (John 16:7). Some translations call this helper an “advocate,” a “counselor,” or a “comforter.” 

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. (John 16:7, AMP).

And He was true to His word. On the day of Pentecost (50 days after Jesus’ resurrection and only 10 days after His ascension to Heaven), the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples… in a very epic manner. 

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4). 

Acts chapter 2 goes on to say that all the other people who were around heard the disciples speaking in their own native languages! And boy howdy, were there a lot of folks in town! The Bible lists: “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs” (Acts 2:9-11). But the miracles don’t stop there. Peter (one of the disciples) then began to preach with boldness and authority and as a result 3,000 people converted to Christianity on the spot! 

“Wow,” you might be thinking to yourself, “that’s amazing that God helped Peter to preach to thousands of people in their own languages and fulfill the Great Commission… not to mention the whole indoor hurricane and tongues of fire bit was pretty cool too. But what does that have to do with me?” Why I’m so happy you asked :). Did you know that as a believer in Christ you have access to that same Spirit?  If you want to receive it, you can have that very same power. You can receive that same counselor, comforter, and helper, and have Him with you all the rest of your days. The prerequisites are very simple:

1) You need to be a follower of Jesus. 

2) You have to willingly ask Him into your life. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He does not force Himself on anyone. Just like accepting Jesus, accepting the Holy Spirit is a choice. You do not need a Pastor, Priest, or Elder present to receive the Holy Spirit, you simply need to invite Him into your life.

3) You have to be willing to act.

Color Study for Rose of Sharon (comp 2), 2023 

oil painting on canvas

8” x 10”

The action part is critical. The power of God can enable you to do amazing things but you have to first be willing to act. God used Peter to reach 3,000 people but first Peter had to be willing to stand up and open his mouth. As I said before, the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He does not possess people and force them to do things. He is a helper, not a slave-driver and our willing participation is essential to the equation. I imagine that Peter’s step to preach took tremendous courage and faith… but oh, what a reward to see his calling fulfilled. 

Tomorrow we celebrate the day of Pentecost. This Sunday, 2,000 years ago, God sent His Holy Spirit down to the disciples and as a result all those incredible miracles from the book of Acts took place. As you contemplate the amazing things that God helped the disciples to do, I pray that you would also remember that He can help you to do amazing things too. God has a special calling on your life and you have access to that same Spirit to help you make it a reality. Maybe it’s a big thing like Peter’s thing, or maybe it’s a little thing like sharing one small word of encouragement, picking up a paintbrush again, or opening your laptop and trying to type a short sentence. God can do incredible things with little things, but first you need to be willing to take a step… and you never know, your small step might just change the world.