There is just a tiny switch between doing nothing and doing something, but the two options have wildly different outcomes. (From Tina Seelig's book, What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20, page 19).
1 Kings 19:11-13 New International Version (NIV)
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
We often assume in life that things follow a linear curve gradually sloping upwards. For example, the more miles I travel in my car, the more gasoline I will typically consume. Yet in many matters involving the human brain, the most perhaps, the relationship tends to be exponential as a heightening synergy comes into play. Learning is an instance of this. While reading comprehension can begin slowly, progress can exponentially improve as practice continues. Faith is another example. Certainly here the quotation applies: "There is just a tiny switch between doing nothing and doing something, but the two options have wildly different outcomes" ibid. Jesus tells us if we have the faith of a mustard seed (a little faith), we can move mountains. Sometimes we never commence a project or journey for our first steps seem so inconsequential (we are assuming linearity). Ironically, the exercise of a little faith leads to dramatically heightened faith. Abundant life does not grow from blasts of tawdry razzle-dazzle, but from a gentile whisper.
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