Change does not start from when you discover it.
Change doesn’t start at the moment you realize it. Often, we think that change begins when we first notice it—when something shifts, and we make a conscious decision to do something different. But the truth is, change begins much earlier, and the choices we make long before the moment of decision arrives. Like a pregnant woman, the day the doctor tells her that she is pregnant is not the day she got pregnant but days or even weeks before.
It's not at the point of action that we decide to act; rather, our past choices influence the decisions we make today. The small decisions we’ve made in the past accumulate, shaping the way we respond to new challenges and opportunities. This means that every little choice, every small allowance, contributes to a larger pattern that guides us when bigger decisions come our way.
Take the example of Jesus' temptation. It wasn’t in the moment of being tempted that He decided to resist; that decision was the result of a lifetime of learning, understanding, and commitment to the Kingdom of God. His refusal to give in was a natural outcome of the many small decisions He had made throughout His life, decisions that fortified His resolve long before the temptation arose. He didn't overcome because He was God made flesh.
The little things we consistently do are what build our character and strength, or even our weaknesses. Each small choice might not seem significant on its own, but together, they create the foundation for the major decisions we will make in life. Whether these decisions lead to our growth or our downfall depends on the patterns we’ve established over time. You become your choices.
Life will inevitably bring us to moments where our deepest desires and true character are revealed. In those moments, we don’t make decisions in a vacuum—they are the sum of all the 'small small' choices we’ve made leading up to that point. This is why it’s crucial to be mindful of even the smallest decisions, as they ultimately determine the direction of our lives.
Change isn’t something that starts when we notice it—it begins much earlier, in the quiet, seemingly insignificant moments of our lives. By being aware of this, we can start to make more intentional decisions today, knowing that they will shape our future in many ways.
Written by Israel Jinadu
