Small and Simple Things

Recently I have been working out with one of my roommates. He knows many different lifts and
exercises. One day, he introduced us to exercising with our scarves. At first we thought it was a joke, how could a scarf provide the resistance needed to make the exercise worth anything. The instructions were very simple, hold the scarf taut and then raise it above our heads and lower it keeping the tension on the scarf and our arms straight. Then, keeping the scarf taut still, do shoulder presses with the scarf, after which came putting it behind our back and working our triceps by raising our arms behind our back. We started in still seeing this as a joke, but by the time we finished we felt the burn.

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls. (Alma 37:6-7)

Many times in our lives we think of God working in these mighty ways such as parting the red sea, or Elijah calling down fire from heaven, but more often God works in small ways, so small that often times we miss them. Just as I thought the scarf exercises would do nothing for me, we sometimes feel that the things God has asked us to do are too small to amount to anything.

In the Old Testament, we learn of Naaman who was a Syrian captain with lepersy. He, seeking to be cleansed from it, went to inquire of Elisha, the prophet. Upon arrival at Elisha's house, Elisha sent out a messenger to tell Naaman to go and wash in the river Jordan seven times and he would be cleansed of his lepersy. Naaman was furious that he was tasked with such a simple task by a servant of the prophet, and refused to do it until one of his own servants said "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" Naaman then did as instructed and was cleansed. (see 2 Kings 5)

We also learn of the Israelites who while in the wilderness had poisonous serpents sent to them, which killed many. The Lord told Moses to make a serpent of brass and raise it up, that whosoever would look upon it would be healed. Many sadly refused to look up at the brazen serpent because they did not believe it would heal them. (see Numbers 21:6-9 and Alma 33:19-21)

I know that it is the small and simple things that have helped me the most in my life: reading the scriptures, praying and looking for the blessings of God each have helped me develop a relationship with my Father in Heaven.

The scriptures teach us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) I know that as we do that then he will truly direct our paths as verse six says. We may not always understand why the Lord has asked us to do something, but we can take comfort that everything he does is for our benefit.