Recently, I saw this drawing that really made me chuckle. It had a clever drawing of three pyramids. The one said, "Have a Big Vision," the other said, "And Start Small," and the last one, the most important one, said, "But most importantly, just start." It got me thinking about how simple it is to start fresh, even when the journey ahead feels big or overwhelming.
The Bible teaches us that "where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). A vision is essential, but it doesn’t mean we have to see the whole picture from the start. Sometimes, the most important thing is to begin, even if it’s in a small way.
We often focus on the end goal and the end result. But how often do we miss the step-by-step process that leads to success?
Think about the disciples. They didn’t start as great leaders; they began as ordinary people, often uncertain of what the future held, but they took the first step and followed Jesus. They didn’t wait for everything to be perfect; they simply responded to Jesus' call and started their journey with Him. Along the way, they grew, they stumbled, they learned, but they kept going, even when they didn’t fully understand the vision. And that’s what made all the difference.
Even Jesus Himself had a start. His beginning wasn’t about grand gestures or lofty ideas—it was about depending on God’s love to exist, to survive, and to fulfill His mission. In the beginning, He started with the small steps of being born in a humble manger, living among ordinary people, and teaching through simple parables. His journey wasn’t marked by immediate success or recognition, but it was steady, grounded in trust and dependence on His Father. And if you think about it, every journey begins with that first step, no matter how small it may seem.
Walter Brueggemann, a respected theologian, speaks about the importance of starting small and trusting God’s vision for our lives. He writes, "It is not the magnitude of our vision that makes the difference; it is the willingness to take the first step, to believe that God’s work is not in our hands, but in the hands of the One who called us." This simple idea echoes throughout Scripture—God’s work often begins in the small, the humble, and the overlooked. From the small mustard seed to the unassuming child born in Bethlehem, God's kingdom grows in ways we can’t always see or predict.
Psalm 37:5 says, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act." This is a beautiful reminder that we don’t have to have everything figured out before we take that first step. When we trust in God and commit our way to Him, He will guide our paths and give us the strength to move forward, no matter how small the beginning may seem.
Remember this: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" (Matthew 21:42). Jesus Himself, the cornerstone, was once rejected, overlooked, and misunderstood. And yet, He became the foundation of everything that is true, the source of hope and strength for all who believe. If Jesus isn't the cornerstone of your life, then any project or vision you’re working on will not find true success. Outside of the will of God, nothing good lasts. The truth is that our plans, our visions, and our goals are rooted in Him. Without Him as our foundation, we cannot stand firm.
And as we remember the simple start of things, think about a story we often sing about in this season—Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. For all his shiny, bright nose, Rudolph wasn’t always accepted. He was an outcast, seen as different, and often overlooked. But in the end, it was his unique difference that made him the hero. It’s a beautiful reminder that even in the smallest, most unexpected ways, something special can be birthed, and God can use anything—no matter how humble or overlooked—to make a difference.
So, as we journey thru this season of expectation, I want to encourage you to start, don't wait until January 1st. No matter how big the task seems, begin today, knowing that God’s love and guidance are with you every step of the way. Take that first small step, trusting that He will provide what you need. Keep your vision clear, start small, and trust that God will lead you where you need to go. Just like the disciples, just like Jesus, and just like the many stories throughout Scripture, we are called to start. It’s in the starting that God works. Let Him be your cornerstone and remember that with Him, all things are possible.
In this season, may you find joy in the small beginnings and trust that God is working in and through you. Just like Rudolph, your light might shine when you least expect it—and your journey has already begun!
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