Start Small, Start Now
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Your Quiet Yes Is Enough
There’s something beautiful about starting small. It’s not glamorous. It doesn’t trend. Most people won’t get it—and honestly, sometimes you don’t even fully get it. But that doesn’t make it any less powerful.
Maybe you're in a season where you’re building something no one else sees yet. You’ve got a quiet “yes” bubbling under the surface—a nudge, a whisper, a dream that feels more like a seed than a full-blown tree. You’ve been waking up before sunrise, praying with cracked voices, journaling like every word matters, and doing the unseen work that feels more holy than it does flashy.
Here’s what I want to tell you: you don’t have to explain any of it.
You don’t have to justify your process, your pace, or your passion. Why? Because Heaven already approved it.
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”
— Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
God isn’t looking for fanfare. He’s looking for faith. He’s not asking for perfection. He’s asking for obedience. And that means when He gives you the green light, you don’t owe anyone a press release. You don’t have to pause your calling to make someone else comfortable with your yes.
People may not understand what you're doing or why you're moving the way you are. But they didn’t hear the whisper. They weren’t in the room when God spoke. They didn’t feel the fire in your chest when you finally realized, I have to do this—even if I do it afraid.
So don’t wait to be understood. Don’t shrink just because someone doesn’t get it. Let your quiet beginning be enough. Let your “yes” echo louder than your need to explain. Because the One who called you sees you—and He’s rejoicing over every step you take.
Breaking Free From the Burden to Be Understood
Let’s talk about something that so many of us carry: the unspoken pressure to over-explain ourselves. This often starts young—especially for women, people of color, or anyone who’s ever felt “too much” or “not enough” in rooms that weren’t built for them. We get taught—sometimes through words, other times through silence—that we need to justify why we belong.
So we start explaining. We explain why we started. Why we slowed down. Why we changed direction. Why we’re dreaming differently than we used to.
But here’s the truth: that constant explaining? It’s not just exhausting. It’s a distraction.
Educational psychologists call this the “narrative burden.” It’s the emotional and mental load of having to tell your story in a way that makes others feel comfortable with your decisions. But that emotional energy—energy that could be used for building, dreaming, obeying—is being spent on getting approval you don’t even need.
Here’s your reframe: You don’t owe an explanation for being obedient. You don’t need a permission slip to say yes to God. Your obedience is your evidence. Let your fruit speak for you. Let your growth do the talking. Let your alignment and peace be the only story you need to tell.
And when you feel the urge to explain? Pause. Breathe. And ask: What would shift if I believed that being seen by God was enough?
Your Brain Just Wants to Keep You Safe—But You Can Train It to Trust
When you're about to do something new, misunderstood, or scary—like launching a project, stepping into leadership, or obeying God without proof—your amygdala (the fear center of your brain) lights up. Its job is to protect you. It assumes: If they don’t understand me, they might reject me. If I get rejected, I might be alone. And if I’m alone… it’s not safe.
So what do you do? You over-explain. You rehearse conversations. You post disclaimers. You try to soften your boldness with overcommunication.
But here’s the game-changer: when you choose to pause instead of panic, to trust instead of over-talk, your prefrontal cortex (the decision-making part of your brain) strengthens. That’s where your faith gets processed. That’s where you tell your nervous system: We’re safe. We’re covered. We’re obeying God, and that’s enough.
You’re literally rewiring your brain every time you choose to rest instead of explain. Every time you choose to say “yes” quietly instead of shouting your reasoning from the rooftops, you’re building mental and spiritual resilience. This is neuroplasticity and spiritual growth colliding. It’s beautiful. It’s powerful. And you’re doing it—one small beginning at a time.
God Loves to Start in the Shadows
God doesn’t just tolerate small beginnings—He prefers them.
Over and over again in Scripture, we see that God’s most transformative moves didn’t start with explosions. They started in obscurity.
Noah built a boat before rain was even a thing. People laughed. He kept building.
David was overlooked by his own father—but anointed by God in the middle of the field.
Mary received an angelic visitation that changed the world—and still had to carry her assignment in silence.
Jesus was born in a feeding trough, not a palace. His arrival changed everything, but it didn’t come with the fanfare people expected.
This is God’s pattern. Small doesn’t mean insignificant. Hidden doesn’t mean forgotten. Quiet doesn’t mean powerless.
“Do not despise these small beginnings…”
— Zechariah 4:10
Heaven doesn’t wait for crowds to rejoice. God shouts over your seed. He celebrates your start. So don’t let the world’s obsession with fast, big, and loud rob you of the beauty of slow, sacred, and steady.
You’re right on time, even if no one else sees it yet.
The “Permission + Prophecy” Practice
Sometimes we get so caught up in figuring out what’s next, who to please, or how to make sense of everything swirling around us, that we forget we don’t need another external confirmation—we just need clarity. God-given clarity. The kind that comes when you slow down and really listen to what your spirit is asking for.
This coaching moment is not about fixing yourself. It’s about freeing yourself. It’s about giving yourself permission to become all that God created you to be, without holding your breath or apologizing for your yes. So often, we wait for someone else—a leader, a parent, a mentor, a boss, or even a version of ourselves that feels more “together”—to say, “It’s okay now. You can go.” But what if I told you that today, you get to give that permission to yourself?
This isn’t your typical mindset activity. It’s a sacred space for breakthrough, healing, and honest permission. Today, you’re going to give yourself the kind of green light you’ve been unknowingly waiting on. Not because you’re finally “ready” in the world’s eyes, but because you are aligned in God’s.
Write Your Permission Letter
Grab your journal, notebook, or even a sticky note if that’s what you’ve got handy. At the top of the page, write in bold, powerful letters:
“I Give Myself Permission To…”
Now, take a breath and sit in that question. What have you been holding back on? What decision or dream have you been delaying—not because you lack vision, but because you’ve been waiting for someone else to validate it?
Write at least seven bold statements that begin with “I give myself permission to…” These aren’t surface-level affirmations. These are heart-level declarations. They might sound like,
I give myself permission to follow God without needing to explain every step.
I give myself permission to start again, even if I feel behind.
I give myself permission to let go of roles I’ve outgrown.
I give myself permission to lead with softness, not just strength.
I give myself permission to be wildly creative and deeply spiritual.
I give myself permission to stop performing for approval.
I give myself permission to honor my healing and still show up whole.
Let your hand move freely. Let your spirit speak. You’re not making a list—you’re uncovering your own spiritual authority.
Ask the Deeper Question
On the next page, write this question at the top,
“Where Did I Learn That I Needed Permission?”
Sit with that. Ask God to reveal it gently. Think about the voices, experiences, or environments that made you feel like your voice had to be filtered or your calling had to be approved. Write them down—be honest, not harsh. You’re not assigning blame; you’re unearthing the root.
It might be a parent’s expectations, a church culture that only celebrated certain types of leaders, or even a teacher who told you to “tone it down.” Whatever it is, name it.
Then say this out loud, slowly and with power,
“I break agreement with the lie that I need permission to walk in my God-given calling. I am already anointed for this.”
Burn the Block
This part may feel symbolic, but it’s also prophetic. If you feel safe to do so, take the page where you wrote your limiting beliefs or past conditioning and physically destroy it. Rip it up, shred it, burn it carefully in a fire-safe dish, or crumble it and throw it away.
This is not a dramatic act. It’s a declaration: This does not own me anymore.
Prophesy Forward
Now, turn to a fresh page and write this heading,
“Here’s What’s Coming…”
Declare what God is birthing in this new season. Write at least five forward-facing truths in full sentences. These should come from your spirit, not from stress or striving. You might say,
I am stepping into deeper peace, greater alignment, and fresh creativity.
My voice will speak healing and hope to the people God assigns to me.
I will walk in full obedience without delay or fear.
My life is evidence that God redeems, restores, and sends.
I am no longer hidden. I am being positioned and prepared for impact.
Keep this page somewhere visible—your journal, mirror, or even your altar space. Let it remind you what you’ve said yes to.
Creating Sacred Atmosphere with the “Candle of Clarity” Ritual
Now that you’ve done the deep heart work, I want to invite you into a gentle, sacred practice that helps your spirit settle and your space reflect the shift. We’ve broken agreements with old lies. We’ve spoken truth. Now, we anchor that clarity into the atmosphere.
I call this the “Candle of Clarity” Ritual—a quiet, holy way to invite the light of God into your space and silence the noise of confusion. You don’t need anything complicated. Just a candle, a few minutes of stillness, and an open heart.
Light the Candle
Choose a small candle—any kind will do. Set it in front of you, preferably in a quiet space with minimal distractions. As you light the flame, speak this prayer aloud:
“God, thank You for being the light in every dark place. Today, I ask You to light up what’s been hidden, expose what needs healing, and burn away what no longer belongs in this next season. Let this flame represent Your clarity and my commitment to follow Your voice.”
Watch the flame flicker. Let it slow your breathing. Let it symbolize the fire inside of you—refined, not extinguished.
Sit in Stillness
Set a timer for five minutes if that helps you stay present. As you sit in the light of the candle, don’t rush. Don’t force yourself to “hear something.” Simply breathe. Listen. Be still.
Ask God, “What do You want me to see right now? What truth are You whispering?”
Let the silence become sacred.
Speak a Bold Declaration
Once the stillness settles in, speak one bold, present-tense declaration aloud. Choose something that feels alive in your spirit. For example:
“I am no longer bound by confusion. I walk with divine clarity and holy confidence.”
Say it again, slowly and with power. Let it register in your bones.
Blow the Candle Out with Intention
When you’re ready, blow out the candle—not as an end, but as a release. As you do, say this out loud:
“The light doesn’t go out. I carry it with me now. I walk with clarity. I move with heaven.”
Repeat this ritual anytime you feel stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed. Let it be your rhythm of reset. Let it remind you that clarity isn’t something you chase—it’s something God gives freely when you pause and receive.
Faith-Filled Affirmations
I give myself permission to begin.
Small steps are sacred in God’s eyes.
My obedience is enough to move Heaven.
Reflection Questions
What have I been postponing because it didn’t feel “big enough” yet?
What’s the smallest next step I can take today that still honors the vision?
How does knowing God rejoices at the beginning change how I move?
Prayer Targets
Holy Spirit, help me to see the sacredness in small beginnings.
Jesus, anchor me in the joy of movement—not the fear of failure.
God, show me where to begin and help me to stay present in the process.
Song of the Day
Let this song stir a fresh start in your heart today. Let it speak to the places in you that need new mercy, fresh courage, and holy momentum. Let the music carry your yes.
Let’s connect. Not just in the comments, not just with a double tap. I want to know what’s been on your heart. Let’s talk, dream out loud, pray if you need it, laugh if you feel like it, just real space for real conversation.
Listen to Meditation
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