Confessions of Woman Counselors: Part 3

Little Trials Or Big?
Amy Baker July 10, 2012 


Things
More often than I’d care to admit, I’ve found myself struggling to be compassionate toward those whose trials just don’t seem to be that big in my opinion—the menopausal woman having a hot flash, the good student who missed 3 points on a test because the question was ambiguous, the guy whose lawn mower won’t start. (These only seem big if I experience them.)

Does this reflect my view of God? Do I think God doesn’t care about little things, so these people should just get over it?

Big Things
It can be easy to see my need for God’s grace when big trials come—when my son is in a serious car wreck and is in intensive care, when my father dies, when my house burns to the ground. Do I notice my need in “smaller” trials too? When my filing cabinet won’t open, when ants invade my office, when my computer locks up, when my cell phone battery dies when I need to make a call, when my grandson breaks something I really like, when I’m interrupted when I’m trying to study…

Little Things and God
Am I willing to cry out to God and study His character in these little things? Or, are the little things, just little things, not significant enough to look for God at work in them? Not significant enough to thoroughly examine whether my representation of Christ truly reflects His character? Not significant enough to cry out to Him?

Do I treat God as if I just need Him for the “big” things, I’ll take care of the little things without bothering Him? Do I leave those trials more in love with my Savior or simply proud of myself for taking care of things efficiently and well? Do I give Him the praise He is due for helping me in the smallest details of life?

And then, do I treat others as if they should have the same disregard for God that I often have? Should they “get over it”? Should they not bother me or God unless it’s something “big”?


Opportunities
Maybe little things aren’t really little things (cf. 1 John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 10:31). Maybe they are just frequently missed opportunities to reflect God’s glory.

Here are 5 ideas I’ve come up with to help me grow in this area.

• Thank God daily for things which I often overlook unless there’s a problem—for cold water from the faucet, for soap in the shower, for elbows that bend…
• Cry out to God for help with “minor” problems—the strength to open stubborn jar lids, the hair which refuses to go in the right direction, the friend who is running a few minutes late…
• Praise God daily for His attention to detail—eyelashes, wood grain, shades of color…
• Daily ask for God’s help not to function as if I only need Him for “big” things.
• Daily ask for God’s help to recognize and make the most of the opportunities He gives to show compassion to others in their trials—no matter how big or small I think they are.

Join the Conversation
What items would you add to the list?