Mother Teresa once advised, “Be faithful in the small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” Nobody likely thought much when she first invited an abandoned leper into her home, caring for them with dignity. But by the time she died, she was known worldwide for initiating transformative change—the kind that comes from continually doing small things well.
The book of Nehemiah offers profound insights into the small things we must focus on to initiate change in our own lives and families. One of the first is learning to truly care about what drives transformation. In Nehemiah 1:1-4, we find Nehemiah, serving as cupbearer, receiving a visit from his brother and friends from home. During their conversation, Nehemiah questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile and also about Jerusalem.
Their response deeply troubled him: “Those who survived the exile… are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire” (v. 3). When Nehemiah heard this, he didn’t simply acknowledge it and move on. Instead, he sat down and wept. He mourned, fasted, and prayed earnestly. His heart was genuinely moved by his people’s desperate plight.
This reaction reveals a fundamental truth: if Nehemiah had not first cared deeply, he would never have initiated the monumental changes that followed. God’s redemptive work always begins with a profound heart-shift. Truly caring precedes meaningful change. But we cannot simply care about whatever captures our attention; we must take delight in what God cares about, choosing His ways over our own (Psalm 37:4).
That means we must first take delight in God’s covenant—living as He wants us to. We should choose confidence over confusion, faith over fear, and diligence over laziness. Nehemiah 1:5 declares, “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love…” God always keeps His end of the covenant, so the change we long for depends on us keeping ours!
Second, we must take delight in our calling from God. In verses 5-9, Nehemiah prayed earnestly and sought God’s direction. This pattern reveals the complete cycle: caring deeply drives lasting change when we first commit to our covenant with God, then answer His call by moving forward in what He asks of us.
The transformation we long to see in our families, communities, and world begins with one essential ingredient: a heart that truly cares about what God cares about. Just as Mother Teresa’s compassionate heart sparked global change through simple acts of love, and just as Nehemiah’s broken heart for Jerusalem led to the rebuilding of its walls, your caring heart has the power to initiate remarkable transformation.
When we align our hearts with God’s covenant love and faithfully embrace our unique calling, we become catalysts for His redemptive work in the world. Don’t underestimate the power of caring deeply—it’s where all lasting change begins!
