Intentional FaithThe Glory Found in Small Steps
On Second Thought
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Many Christians quietly carry a burden they rarely discuss. They know they should glorify God, but the command feels so large, so lofty, and so far beyond their daily experience that they wonder if they are capable of accomplishing it at all. They hear sermons about honoring God, living for His glory, and fulfilling His purpose, yet when they look honestly at their own lives, they see weaknesses, failures, distractions, and unfinished spiritual goals. The distance between where they are and where they think they should be can seem overwhelming.
Psalm 63 offers a refreshing perspective. David wrote these words while in the wilderness of Judah, a place of hardship and uncertainty. Yet instead of focusing on what he lacked, he fixed his attention on God. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee.” David’s circumstances were far from ideal, but his desire remained clear. His deepest longing was not for comfort, success, or relief. It was for God Himself.
That truth changes how we think about glorifying God. Glorifying God is not primarily about accomplishing great religious achievements. It begins with seeking Him. The Hebrew word for glory, kabod, carries the idea of weightiness, worth, and honor. To glorify God is to recognize His supreme value and respond accordingly. Every act of obedience, every prayer, every expression of gratitude, and every moment of trust declares that God is worthy.
The life of Jesus demonstrates this beautifully. He glorified the Father not merely through miracles or public ministry but through daily obedience. Whether speaking to a Samaritan woman at a well, touching a leper, blessing children, or enduring the agony of the cross, Christ consistently honored His Father. The glory of God was revealed through countless ordinary acts of faithfulness woven together into an extraordinary life.
This offers hope to believers who feel inadequate. Glorifying God does not require perfection. It requires direction. The Christian life is not a single heroic leap but a series of faithful steps. One prayer offered in sincerity glorifies God. One act of forgiveness glorifies God. One decision to trust Him in adversity glorifies God. One quiet moment spent reading Scripture glorifies God. Day after day, these seemingly small acts accumulate into a life that reflects His character.
Romans 8:28 reinforces this encouragement. Paul does not say that all things are good. Rather, he assures believers that God works through all things for good. Even our failures, disappointments, and seasons of weakness become material in the hands of the Master Builder. He wastes nothing. What appears to us as a setback often becomes a tool for spiritual growth. What feels like failure may become the very means by which God teaches humility, dependence, and perseverance.
Charles Spurgeon once observed, “God is too good to be unkind and too wise to be mistaken.” That insight helps us understand why we can continue moving forward after we stumble. The Christian who falls is not abandoned. Through confession and repentance, grace restores what sin disrupted. The journey continues because God’s faithfulness exceeds our inconsistency.
The Holy Spirit plays an essential role in this process. We were never intended to glorify God through self-effort alone. The Spirit empowers obedience, illuminates Scripture, convicts of sin, and produces Christlike character. As Paul writes in Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Even our desire to glorify God originates in His gracious work within us.
On Second Thought
Here is the paradox that often surprises us: the people who most glorify God are usually the least impressed with themselves. We assume that glorifying God means becoming spiritually exceptional, yet Scripture repeatedly shows the opposite. Moses felt inadequate. David knew failure. Peter denied Christ. Paul called himself the chief of sinners. None of them became useful because they achieved flawless performance. They became useful because they increasingly depended upon God.
Perhaps the greatest obstacle to glorifying God is not weakness but self-consciousness. We spend so much time evaluating our spiritual progress that we forget to simply look at Christ. The sun does not struggle to shine; it shines because of what it is. Likewise, believers reflect God’s glory most naturally when their attention remains fixed upon Him rather than upon themselves. The Christian who quietly seeks God each day, repents quickly, loves faithfully, and trusts steadily may be glorifying God far more than he realizes.
The irony is that the less we focus on building our own spiritual reputation, the more God’s glory becomes visible. The less we strive to appear significant, the more Christ becomes central. Glorifying God may seem like a titanic goal, but it is accomplished one surrendered moment at a time. Eternity itself will be an endless celebration of His glory. Every act of worship, every prayer of dependence, and every step of obedience today simply allows us to begin practicing for that future reality.
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Bryan King
Drink of Jesus
Lauryl Inspiring
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven