The Gift of Smallness and the Path to Peace

Six months ago I drove past a nursing home. As I slowed to a stop at a red light, I glanced up at the five-story building. In the dark of the night, I saw lights in several windows. From my perspective, I could only see the ceiling tiles illuminated by lamps and televisions. Based on the spacing of the windows, I knew each room was small. The light turned green, and I drove on but with a pit in my stomach.

It feels wrong to me that a person who has wandered and wondered on this earth for decades occupies no more space than the size of my bedroom in a five-story building on a little road in a not-so-big city.

The sum of a person—her experiences, beliefs, values, and eternal nature as a human made in the image of God—seems at odds with the tiny bit of space she occupies on this earth.

Our finite, constricting bodies house an eternal soul. Created at birth but boundless beyond death. “For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 4:18-5:1)

Our Want of Wonder

Maybe this is why we see humanity everywhere seeking out experiences which show us a glimpse of the awe-inspiring eternal. Standing before a vast, roaring ocean stretching past the horizon. Treasuring redwood forests dating back to the time Jesus walked the earth. Gazing up at an endless starry sky.

These experiences remind us of our smallness. When we carry our thoughts about smallness to their natural conclusion—that creation is not about us—we find two opposite responses: despair or worship.

For the person who puts her hope and faith in Jesus, reminders of her smallness give her glimpses of the greatness of God.

Ten years ago I attended a talk by Louie Giglio about our indescribable God. He presented facts about our universe, our galaxy, and vast stretches of space beyond. With analogies and comparisons, he helped us begin to grab the edge of comprehending the incomprehensible size of creation. You can watch a portion of that talk here.

"I'm not trying to make you feel small. I'm trying to help you see that you *are* small." -Louie Giglio #WeAreSmall #GodisGreat Share on X

At one point Louie says, “I’m not trying to make you feel small. I’m trying to help you see that you are small.” And at that statement, the crowd cheers. They cheer because understanding our smallness helps us more clearly see the glory of God.

Declared Valuable

Smallness does not imply meaningless. Despite our small size, an infinite God declares us valuable.

Those who despair at the realization of our smallness fear that their size reflects their significance. And it’s true that to the world, we are insignificant.

I read The Red Badge of Courage in school. There is a description of the sky, the trees, and the singing birds after the carnage of a bloody battle. The protagonist wonders at nature’s ability to carry on in peace and beauty as if nothing horrifying had just taken place on the battlefield.

Babies are born, and people die every day. For those who grieve a loss, their world is turned upside down. But the world carries on spinning, the birds continue their singing, and the sun doesn’t cease to shine.

But to God, we are significant. He knows every hair on your head and every thought that ever crossed your mind. “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:8)

What This Means for Lasting Peace

During hard seasons of life—loss of loved ones, big moves, or living through a pandemic—I find God’s peace meeting me when I open my eyes to see the bigger picture.

Biblical perspective helps us see the hope at the end of suffering. A right perspective helps us trade fear for trust. And the perspective of our smallness takes the burdens and weariness off our shoulders and lays them on a great, strong, mighty God who is able.

It's not that we allow God into our story. It's that he allows us into his. #perspective Share on X

It’s not that we allow God into our story. It’s that he allows us into his. When we see ourselves in the greater work he is doing, the world and its cares fade into the background. Knowing we are safe and secure in the palm of his hand grounds us in his peace because we trust God’s words to be true.

“‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

Isaiah 54:10 ESV

1. How does knowing your smallness change the way you live your life?

2. What experiences have reminded you of your smallness?

I’d love to hear your answers in the comments!