The Big God of Small Places

God is infinite and mighty, yet He often chooses to reveal His greatest works in the smallest, most unexpected places. The Most High God sometimes requires us to stoop low in humility to receive His blessings. Throughout Scripture, we see that He unapologetically uses people and places, we might overlook, to bring about His purposes.

The Christmas story reminds us of this truth. The Saviour of the world, God’s greatest gift, was not born in a palace but in Bethlehem, a small and obscure town. With no room in the inn, Jesus came into the world in a manger. Later, He grew up in Nazareth—a place people despised, as Nathanael once asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

God deliberately hid the biggest promise in a small place. Yet, many could not receive Him because of their familiarity. When Jesus taught in His hometown, people were offended and dismissed Him as “the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:53–58). Their unbelief meant they missed the mighty works God wanted to do.

This principle remains true today: what comes from God often comes through others. God places His anointing on people around us. To grow in Him, we must learn to receive not just directly from God but also through the people He raises up. The Kingdom of God is interdependent—we need one another.

After His resurrection, Jesus revealed Himself not to the whole world but to a few disciples. Their testimony became the foundation of faith for many (1 Corinthians 15). In the same way, when we hear someone else’s testimony, it should stir faith within us—what God did for them, He can do for us too.

This is also seen in the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:19). Jesus blessed and broke the loaves, but the disciples gave them to the people. Most did not receive bread directly from Jesus, yet all were fed by Him—through others. Even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, distributed bread that nourished hundreds. The miracle still worked because it came from Jesus.

The story of Joseph illustrates this beautifully. Though his brothers resented his gift, Joseph later told them, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth” (Genesis 45:7). His gift was never for him alone—it was for others.

When God blesses someone near you, it is not at your expense. Instead, it is for your benefit. Their gift is part of God’s provision for your life. Rather than envy, we should give thanks, knowing that God has placed blessings around us for our good.

The more we worship, the easier it is to recognise God’s presence in others. John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” could recognise Jesus from afar (John 21:7). Likewise, when we love God’s presence, we rejoice wherever we see His Spirit at work.

God still anoints people today. If we want to grow in Him, we must become good at receiving from Him through others. Some of the greatest things He wants to do in our lives, He reserves to accomplish through those He has placed around us.

Our God is a big God who works through small places and ordinary people. He hides great treasures in unexpected places, teaching us humility, dependence, and honour for one another. Let us open our eyes to see Him at work around us, so we may receive all He has for us.