How Small A Whisper

“He stretches out the north over the void
    and hangs the earth on nothing.
He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
    and the cloud is not split open under them.
He covers the face of the full moon
    and spreads over it his cloud.
He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters
    at the boundary between light and darkness.
The pillars of heaven tremble…
By his wind the heavens were made fair…
Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,
    and how small a whisper do we hear of him!
    But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding…
when the morning stars sang together
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
    and caused the dawn to know its place…

“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades
    or loose the cords of Orion?
Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season,
    or can you guide the Bear with its children?
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
    Can you establish their rule on the earth?” Job 26:7-11,13-14; 38:4,7,12,31-33

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him..?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet.” Psalm 8:3-6

“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… apportion[ed] to each one individually as [God] wills… God arranged the members in the body,.. as he chose.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7,11b,18

The Big Dipper stands on end in the pre-dawn, held erect by gravity, as though awaiting God’s grip to scoop and strew the myriad of stars like sparkling diamonds across the indigo sky. Each twinkles perfectly in place, connect-the-dot designs decorating the heaven-fingered canopy. Each is named, like each man known, held, and gifted by the Almighty. These are but a majestic whisper of His infinite ways, hushing the child of God into wonder and worship. (Psalm 147:4; Isaiah 40:26)

Consider the stars, and constellations upheld by God’s power, when considering His design for His children. Sometimes He appoints them for big things: to birth discoveries, movements, inventions. But many more times He uses them for small things that are part of His handiwork: the implementation of an idea, an introduction between strangers, a single life helped, comforted, admonished, or directed to Him. All are created and gifted for His purposes. (Acts 17:26-27; Colossians 1:16-17)

Where has He appointed me? What part am I taking in His grand design to further His kingdom, show kindness, fill a need? Am I frozen by intimidation or lack of confidence that focuses on me, or eager and willing to step into His marvelous plan and serve as He asks and enables? The Lord whispers daily through His people as we shine and fulfill our assigned purpose.

Lord, may my exercise of Your gifts display Your magnificent ways and glory.