When Our Efforts Feel “Small”

In Ether 3:1, I was struck by the size of the 16 stones he prepared. They were small so he could carry them in his hands. For some reason, I always pictured them bigger—to provide light to the whole barge. 

But he knew a small stone could provide the light of the Lord—just like a large one could.

Then in v5, he says “Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.”

That led me to ask, “When does the Lord’s great power look small to me?”

I don’t have a full answer yet, but I think all the small things in my life—the little miracles and blessings, the friendships, the ability to breathe and heal, the opportunities to learn, the closeness with loved ones, the ability to communicate with heaven—those things are not actually “small.”

The footnote on “looks small” in v5 goes to Isaiah 55:8-9:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This leads me back to Ether 3:2: “thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.”

Even though my desires may seem small and insignificant—and even though the answers and blessings I receive in response to my prayers may also seem small and insignificant, I have learned over the years, that the day-to-day living inside our families and neighborhoods and hearts is anything but small and insignificant. 

I trust that the Lord listens, I trust that He wants to give us the good things that we desire. I trust His process will look small to me with my limited perspective. But I also trust that there is something higher and holier going on, and someday my understanding will comprehend His great power that has been with us all along.