Carolina Christian Writers Conference KUDOS Award for Nonfiction: First place goes to Little Faith, Big God by Debbie W. Wilson.”
I’m tickled pink and marvel at God’s perfect timing at receiving this award. It comes while my publisher is offering 40% off of my Big God books. If you could use some encouragement, or if you’re looking for an Easter, Mother’s Day, or early jump on a graduation gift, use code LWBG40 to snag this time-limited offer. Now, let me introduce you to…
Little Faith, Big God
I used to be addicted to performance. And dark chocolate. Now I’m mostly addicted to chocolate.
When my husband, Larry, said, “You sure are hard on yourself,” I recognized the remnants of my unhealthy tendency to draw significance from how well I think I’ve performed. So many of us tend to base our worth on what we do instead of who we are in Christ. How can we stop this destructive cycle? What does God expect of his children?
I find strength in the stories of the believers named in Hebrews 11. Where I see flaws, God saw magnificent faith. These imperfect men and women pleased God. That challenges and encourages me. Challenges, because we don’t get a pass because we’re flawed. Encourages, because God uses inadequate people.
God calls us his children. And children make messes they can’t clean up. They need to be trained, loved, and nurtured. We anticipate that. As a boy, even Jesus “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). If God expects growth to be a process, shouldn’t we?
Spiritual health is not instant, but neither is it stagnant. Vibrant faith grows stronger with proper use. The heroes whose stumbles reassured me also inspired me with their dynamic faith.
In his book Leadership in the Nineties, Dr. J. Robert Clinton suggests that at least 70 percent of leaders do not finish well. They often fail to listen and keep growing, and eventually lose their convictions along the way. When a friend shared this startling observation with me, I thought of the people we’ll soon visit in Hebrews 11, the “faith chapter” of the Bible. Despite their weaknesses, they finished well and earned God’s approval.
Like children who beam at their parent’s praise, I think every true believer longs to hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant” at the end of his or her life. I know I do. That healthy desire propels me to persevere in faith when I’m tempted to retreat in fear. Yet if we aren’t careful, that longing can produce striving that puts the focus on us instead of on God. Perhaps this is why so many leaders burn out.
What set the men and women in Hebrews 11 apart? What can they teach us about God-pleasing faith and how to bounce back from failure? Hebrews 13:7 says, “Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Together, let’s consider these individuals “whose weakness was turned to strength” and find the specific aspects of their faith that we can imitate.
If you’ve wondered how God feels about you when you falter, if the weight of unexpected bills or strained relationships threatens to sink your spirit, or if your three steps forward seem to be followed by two back, then allow the faithful witnesses of Hebrews 11 to equip and encourage you. Faith stories are grace stories. God’s grace fuels our stories too!
If you’ve wondered how God feels about you when you falter, if the weight of unexpected bills or strained relationships threatens to sink your spirit, then allow the faithful witnesses of Hebrews 11 to equip and encourage you. #BigGod Click To Tweet
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Blessings,
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Excellent! Thanks for writing!
April
Thank you, April!
Congratulations Debbie! That looks like another great study. I need to get a copy. Do you know if anyone will be leading a study with Little faith big God? I have really loved the other studies you authored.
Thanks!
I hope to do it again. Thanks, Kelly. I’ll let you know.
Debbie Congratulations on this well-deserved award for a wonderful book!! And seeing ourselves as God does is not always easy (for me, anyway) but something I have been trying to be more intentional about.
Ann, it encourages me to see how God saw these flawed followers and know He sees Christ in me! Thanks so much.
Congratulations, Debbie on your award! Thank you for your encouraging words of wisdom! May God continue to bless your ministry! Love in Christ!
Thank you, Lucille! Your encouragement means a lot!
So very happy for, and proud of, you Ms. Debbie. The way you poured your heart and soul into this book shows ma’am. It’s been a blessing every time I’ve given a copy out to friends. Congratulations; and God’s continued blessings ma’am.
J.D., the highest compliment is to share an author’s book. Thank you so much for your encouragement and support! Blessings to you.
Congratulations Debbie! I’m so happy for you.
Thank you, Melissa! I’m very thankful.
Debbie, this was wonderful. Thank you for such a blessed post. Blessings.
Thank you, Paula!
good reminder that God is the One behind those faith stories of Hebrews 11. Congratulations on your award, too! (Shared to twitter to encourage others!)
Thank you, Mariel! Yes, God’s grace holds them all together, and us too.
Debbie, congratulations on your recent award and thank you for your heartfelt blog posts and books.
Like you, I am thankful for the faithfulness of God. “Faith stories are Grace stories.” … so true. I am thankful for Holy Spirit who guides us. I pray that I may be a faithful ambassador for Him.
Your writing encourages me. Thanks!
Thank you, Brenda. I’m very thankful. I’m also glad God recorded these stories to show us how patient and gracious He is to help us walk by faith.
Congratulations! How exciting! BIG GOD indeed! 🙂
Yes! Thanks, Rebecca!
Congratulations! I appreciated this observation, “Where I see flaws, God saw magnificent faith. That challenges and encourages me. Challenges, because we don’t get a pass because we’re flawed. Encourages, because God uses inadequate people.”
Thank you, Lisa!
Congratulations! I appreciated this observation, “Where I see flaws, God saw magnificent faith. ..”
Congratulations!
Congratulations on your award, Debbie. Well done! I was thinking about a similar topic this week. We are often hard on ourselves. Much harsher than we are with others. I think this comes from a misplaced sense of perfectionism. God does not expect perfection. He expects obedience and a heart focused on service. Thank you for this good encouragement. I need to go back and read Hebrews 11.
Thanks, Laurie. It is a great chapter, especially in light of their backstories!
Congratulations on the award. Well done!
Yes, I long to hear well done at the end of my life. I am big on productivity and performance and can be my own worst critic. It is easy to take my focus off of God and on what I can do for Him. Which is all mixed up. Thank you for the reminder and for sharing with Grace & Truth Link-Up
Maree
Thank you, Maree. I think the tendency is why these biblical stories resonate with me.