Taking Small Steps with God's Empowering Grace

 

Summary

In today's reflection, I invite you to consider what tasks or conversations you might be avoiding and how God fits into those situations. It's important to remember that God is never overwhelmed, and when we feel overwhelmed, it's not His voice we're hearing. Often, we misunderstand grace, thinking it opposes effort, but as Dallas Willard wisely noted, grace is opposed to earning, not effort. Our wills and the ability to take action are gifts of grace. When we feel paralyzed by the enormity of a task, the key is to start working on it. Once we begin, we often find that the task is not as overwhelming as it seemed.

I shared a story about a friend whose spouse felt paralyzed by a challenge beyond human capacity. Yet, we don't face challenges with only human capacity. The ultimate challenge is becoming the person God wants us to be, and this requires intentional training and receiving power from God. Dallas Willard emphasized that while grace saves us, it doesn't mean we do nothing. We must act wisely and consistently, partnering with God in our journey.

When feeling overwhelmed, break tasks into small, manageable steps. Perfectionism can paralyze us, but God doesn't call us to be perfectionistic. Instead, take one small step that you can do without resistance. The story of Nehemiah illustrates this well. Faced with the overwhelming task of rebuilding Jerusalem, his first step was simply to look sad before the king, which set off a chain of events leading to the city's restoration.

God has given us a will, a mind, and initiative. Instead of trying to do everything at once, focus on one small step, celebrate the progress, and gain confidence to move forward with God. Remember, God is not calling you to be overwhelmed. Together with Him, you can face anything life throws at you.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Grace and Effort: Grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. Our ability to act is a gift of grace, and we are called to use it wisely. When feeling overwhelmed, remember that God is never overwhelmed, and His grace empowers us to take action. [00:46]

2. Overcoming Task Paralysis: When faced with overwhelming tasks, begin by taking action. Often, the act of starting reveals that the task is manageable. This aligns with the idea that God partners with us as we embark on our journeys. [01:57]

3. Intentional Training: Becoming the person God wants us to be requires intentional training and receiving power from God. This process involves consistent action and partnership with God, as no one else can do this work for us. [03:18]

4. Breaking Down Tasks: To overcome the paralysis of perfectionism, break tasks into small, manageable steps. Focus on what you can do without resistance and celebrate each small victory to build confidence. [06:29]

5. Facing Challenges with God: Like Nehemiah, take the first small step in facing challenges. God has equipped us with a will, mind, and initiative. Together with Him, we can face anything life throws at us, moving forward one step at a time. [09:58]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:24] - Introduction and Setting
- [00:33] - What Are You Avoiding?
- [00:46] - God's Grace and Effort
- [01:42] - Overcoming Task Paralysis
- [02:22] - Facing Challenges Beyond Human Capacity
- [03:04] - Intentional Training and God's Power
- [04:01] - Life's Fulfillment Beyond Ourselves
- [04:44] - The Balance of Action and Dependence
- [05:28] - The Necessity of Personal Action
- [06:02] - Breaking Down Overwhelming Tasks
- [07:11] - The Elephant Analogy
- [08:06] - Lies of Anxiety
- [08:30] - Nehemiah's Example
- [09:58] - Taking the First Step
- [10:52] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
2. Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
3. Nehemiah 2:1-5 - Nehemiah's initial steps in rebuilding Jerusalem.

#### Observation Questions
1. What does John 15:5 suggest about our ability to accomplish tasks without God? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on God’s partnership in our efforts? [04:14]
2. In Philippians 4:13, what does Paul claim he can do through Christ? How does this verse support the sermon’s message about facing overwhelming tasks? [08:17]
3. How did Nehemiah begin his task of rebuilding Jerusalem, and what does this teach us about taking the first step in overwhelming situations? [09:09]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of grace being opposed to earning, but not effort, change the way one might approach their daily tasks and challenges? [01:14]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between intentional training and receiving power from God? How does this relate to becoming the person God wants us to be? [03:18]
3. How can breaking down tasks into small, manageable steps help overcome the paralysis of perfectionism, according to the sermon? [06:29]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a task or conversation you have been avoiding. What is one small step you can take this week to begin addressing it? [00:33]
2. When you feel overwhelmed, what practical steps can you take to remind yourself that God is never overwhelmed and is with you in your efforts? [00:46]
3. Consider a challenge you are currently facing. How can you intentionally partner with God to receive His power and wisdom in this situation? [05:48]
4. Identify an area in your life where perfectionism might be holding you back. What is one small, imperfect step you can take to move forward? [06:29]
5. Think about a time when you felt paralyzed by a task. How did starting the task change your perception of its manageability? How can this experience inform your approach to future challenges? [01:57]
6. How can you celebrate small victories in your life to build confidence and momentum in your journey with God? [10:23]
7. Reflect on Nehemiah’s example. What is a simple, initial step you can take in a current challenge that might set off a positive chain of events? [09:09]

Devotional

Day 1: Grace Empowers Action, Not Earning
Grace is often misunderstood as a passive gift, but it is a dynamic force that empowers us to act. It is not opposed to effort but to the notion of earning God's favor. Our ability to take action is a gift of grace, and we are called to use it wisely. When we feel overwhelmed, it is crucial to remember that God is never overwhelmed, and His grace empowers us to take the necessary steps forward. By embracing this understanding, we can move beyond paralysis and into purposeful action. [00:46]

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to stop trying to earn God's favor and instead rely on His grace to empower your actions today?


Day 2: Start Small to Overcome Overwhelm
When faced with overwhelming tasks, the key is to begin by taking action. Often, the act of starting reveals that the task is more manageable than it initially seemed. This aligns with the idea that God partners with us as we embark on our journeys. By taking the first step, we invite God's presence into our efforts, transforming what seemed insurmountable into something achievable. [01:57]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small step you can take today towards a task you've been avoiding, and how can you invite God into that process?


Day 3: Intentional Training in God's Power
Becoming the person God wants us to be requires intentional training and receiving power from God. This process involves consistent action and partnership with God, as no one else can do this work for us. It is a journey of growth and transformation, where we actively engage with God's power to shape our character and actions. [03:18]

"Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life requires intentional training in godliness, and how can you begin that training today with God's help?


Day 4: Break Tasks into Manageable Steps
To overcome the paralysis of perfectionism, it is essential to break tasks into small, manageable steps. By focusing on what can be done without resistance and celebrating each small victory, we build confidence and momentum. This approach allows us to move forward without being overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. [06:29]

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a task that feels overwhelming. What is one small, manageable step you can take today, and how will you celebrate that progress?


Day 5: Facing Challenges with God's Partnership
Like Nehemiah, taking the first small step in facing challenges is crucial. God has equipped us with a will, mind, and initiative. Together with Him, we can face anything life throws at us, moving forward one step at a time. By partnering with God, we find the strength and courage to tackle even the most daunting challenges. [09:58]

"Then I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, 'Let us rise up and build.' So they strengthened their hands for the good work." (Nehemiah 2:18, ESV)

Reflection: What challenge are you currently facing that feels beyond your capacity? How can you take the first step today, trusting in God's partnership and provision?

Quotes


One of the things that people often don't understand about God and His grace is we think that Grace is opposed to uh are taking action or our efforts around something when the reality is as Dallas would often say grace is not opposed to effort it's opposed to earning it's supposed to a particular attitude where I am now kind of puffing myself up or saying I deserve the good things that are coming to me. [00:58:44]

Our Wills are given to us by God they are a gift of Grace being able to take action as Grace and actually what I want to talk about today if you're feeling overwhelmed this is for folks who work in this field sometimes they will talk about how we experience task paralysis or overwhelm a freeze where I just feel like this is too much for me, and I found myself feeling this a bit on a day quite recently and the next thought that came was just get to work on it. [00:59:52]

Once you actually begin to take action you discover that it's possible to do it and it's possible to keep doing it and that this task that seems so overwhelming before is not so overwhelming after all and I find God in that I was talking to a very good friend the other day who was going through something difficult and was saying that his spouse is feeling utterly paralyzed because they're facing a challenge that is beyond mere human capacity but of course we don't have to face our challenges only with human capacity. [01:02:07]

This is true for the ultimate Challenge how do I become that person that God wants me to be, and here are wonderful thoughts from Dallas Willard in the Divine conspiracy, this is page 345. he talks about how we're to enter into a life of training and some of you I'm speaking here to my beloved wife Nancy don't like the word train so pick another word cultivation whatever you want we're to enter into a life we're intentional and wise about receiving power from God to become the person God made us to be. [01:03:02]

Dallas says about that uh the training required to transform our most basic habits of thoughts feelings and action will not be done for us. Dallas says sometimes people are not just saved by grace they're Paralyzed by it because they come to think that Grace means I can't do anything at all because God is so anxious to make sure he's getting credit for doing everything God's not anxious about getting credit for anything God's not that way. [01:03:50]

Life in all its forms must reach out to what is beyond it to achieve fulfillment now I'll say that once more and you might just dwell on that for a while today life in all its forms must reach out to what is beyond it to achieve fulfillment, that's the little seed sending out a root, that's the animal and that is also true of the spiritual life, the familiar words of Jesus are without me you can do nothing. [01:05:25]

On the one hand if I try to do something on my own I can't do it I can't beat this addiction I I I I can't the ultimate challenges in life to become the person God made me to be to defeat sin that is beyond me I am not in control, so apart from him I can do nothing but if I'm doing nothing it will generally be apart from him because God didn't made me to do nothing God didn't make you to do nothing. [01:07:11]

Others can help us in certain ways but we must act we must act wisely and consistently over a long period of time and still we cannot do it on our own we cannot do it by ourselves, so we ask God God would you partner together with me in this project in this task in this life of trying to become that person, and would you be with me now as I act to give me power and wisdom. [01:09:11]

Often what blocks us is the paralysis of perfectionism I think I have to do it perfectly no you don't, perfectionism is something that we are not called to Jesus did say be perfect as your heavenly fathers the idea there is just move increasingly towards love and joy confidence and faith in God he did not say be perfectionistic perfectionism is preoccupied with my performance and my appearance and God never calls me to that God never calls me to be overwhelmed by that. [01:12:42]

There's an old question that's often used when it comes to task paralysis how do you eat an elephant and of course the primer answer is you don't eat an elephant who would ever do that that's a stupid analogy you want to make sure if you're doing something that is actually worth doing don't eat the elephant but if you have a large task one bite at a time you break it down into one small step. [01:15:24]

The promise of the scriptures the reality of the kingdom is uh yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me, it is not ultimately threatening Earth has no Sorrows that heaven can't heal, and then I stand together with Paul I can face anything he says in Philippians chapter four I can face anything whatever life throws at me I can handle it through him who gives me strength. [01:17:56]

God has given you a will God has given you a mind God has given you an initiative instead of feeling like you've got to get everything done just one small step small enough so that you don't feel resistance to it so that it can get done and then you do a little celebration at the end of it you do a little d dot a dance to say yep I was able to move on this one and then you get a little confidence together with God to move forward and move forward and God and you together will do what you cannot do on your own. [01:21:15]

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Transcript
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