How Does Jesus Meet Us in Our Everyday Lives?
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One of my favorite Bible stories is about Elijah hearing God. 1 Kings 19:11-13 says, “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?”
I’ll tell you from personal experience that it’s not easy to serve unconditionally. When given the chance to do it for days, weeks, and even years on end, what you find is that your heart is not as pretty as you once hoped. Pride and a drive for affirmation run deep, at least it does in me. But the lesson I’ve been learning and relearning in my home, as I live stuck in all kinds of ordinary, is that my life is about obedience and not success. Not to me, but to him be the glory. In my weakness, his strength is made perfect. I can do all things only because Christ is in me, not because I’m a capable and responsible Christ follower.
The ordinary stuff is the place, as my mom often says, where our character is built. It's how we do the dishes - as a cheerful giver or a grumpy, resentful servant - that God cares about. Thankfully, he is gentle with us, and on the grumpy days, there is grace, but the lesson comes again the next morning. How will you do these dishes today, he asks?
The thing with God is that in his economy, nothing is wasted. When Abraham waited years and years to realize the promise of a son, God was using his everyday life to prepare him for what was to come. Moses spent decades working in the desert before God appeared to him in a bush, giving him a life-changing mission. That time in the desert was readying him to lead the Israelites through this harsh terrain in the years to come.
We think of life as a series of high notes and low notes on a timeline, but God sees it all. Each day we are given is a chance to learn and grow closer to our Maker. Don’t miss his whisper. Let making the bed remind you of his faithfulness. Eating your breakfast tells of his provision. Thank him that his mercies are new every morning and each day has a purpose in God’s Kingdom. They all matter to him. Don't curse the simple moments; lean in, and you’ll hear that whisper of his gracious love for you.
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