It Starts Small

What do you admire most about Paul?

I admire his resiliency.

When we look at Paul to this point in scripture, he has been beaten. He was stripped naked. Then, he was put in jail. He faced a riot in Thessalonica. Now we find him in Corinth.

 When they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 

Acts 18:6

These Jews were just abusive. They were hard-hearted and blasphemous.

Paul did not loose heart. He had confidence. His public appearance was tough and formidable. It makes us wonder – was he always like this? Did Paul ever feel scared or discouraged?

After his famous speech in Athens, Paul moved on to another big city. This city was the city of Corinth. His ministry was going well, but Paul knew something was not right. Up to this point in his missionary trip, he could not stay in a city for long. Riots would happen or he would be dragged to the outskirts and beaten almost to death. It was only a matter of weeks before his enemies would stir up trouble and threaten his life. Then he would be on the run, again. Can we take some liberties and ponder if Paul had sleepless nights in Corinth? Did he wonder if he would have to leave immediately? Perhaps he feared he might be forced to flee again?

Leave? Give up? What about the ministry? What about God’s calling? Have to had sleepless nights pondering these questions?

⁹ The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ He stayed there a year and a half, teaching the word of God among them.

Acts 18:9-10

God an His mercy knew exactly where Paul was and what Paul needed. He came to Paul in a vision and what is the first thing He spoke to Paul.

“Do not be afraid…”

Paul must have had a measure of fear he was battling for the Lord to tell him, do not be afraid. What did Paul do in response? He stayed there a year. Can you imagine the respite that came to Paul’s heart? He had been on the run for a long time. Constantly being thrown out of cities or thrown into jail. What could be going on in Paul’s heart hearing this direct Word from the Lord? I suspect his encounter drew him to remembering:

The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?

Psalm 118:6

God confirmed what Paul already believed. The Lord is with him, he was not afraid. This is what we can call a “quiet sense of destiny.” This is a conviction so powerful and so simple, but it helped Paul to persevere with courage. For Paul, courage was not the absence of fear, but the will to face it.

Friends, God is speaking the same thing to us today. Do not be afraid. You are on the right track. Keep going. I am here for you.

Thoughts to Ponder:

• What obstacles are hindering you from pursuing God’s calling?
• What is your biggest fear?
• How can you nurture this “quiet sense of destiny?”

© Kimberlee Smith 2026 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.