Made in the Small Moments

With the passing of time, I’ve thought of people who were friends of mine who had so much promise. They had what I thought was great dedication to the Lord. But I saw them make little compromises in their lives.

Little things, however, became big things. Little problems became big problems. It reminds me a bit of the people who like to buy chicks and bunnies for their children at Easter because these little animals are so cute. They don’t think about the fact that these animals will become full-grown chickens and pooping rabbits. What was initially so adorable becomes What was I thinking? later.

That is true in life. Those little things can seem so minor and not a big deal. Just a little compromise, just a little white lie, just a little of this or that can become full-blown problems later.

In the same way, when you make right stands in life, those stands build strong character. They become part of who you are. They help you develop a good reputation as a person of integrity.

When you are going through your fiery furnaces, when you are facing your challenges and temptations to cave in and do what is wrong, Jesus will be there with you, giving you the strength to do what is right.

Isaiah 43:2 promises, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (NLT).

How did the four young Hebrews—Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—take a stand when they were pressured to do the wrong thing? It was through the foundation of decisions and commitments they made years earlier. They had developed character and integrity, and it just came out.

Character is not made in crisis; it is only exhibited there. Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it’s made in the small ones.

Are you compromising in little areas today? Little things will become big things—in a good or bad way. Little compromises will become big compromises. And little commitments will turn into bigger commitments. A little honesty here will mean a lot more of it later. And a little deception here will mean a lot more of that later. You decide the end of your life by what you do at the beginning.

The good news is that God won’t “allow [a] temptation to be more than you can stand” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). And just as He walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego through that fiery furnace, He will walk with you. Just as He was present with Daniel in the lions’ den, so He will be present with you.

It’s exciting to think that our generation can go out and impact the world in a way that it needs to be helped. My hope and prayer for each of us as followers of Jesus Christ is that we will be people of character and integrity as we live for Him in a world that is hostile to our beliefs.

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