Meaning in the Mundane

There is something about a calling from God that makes you think that what he’s asked you to do will always be fun and desirable—I won’t say that you get the warm fuzzies every time he calls you (seasons of pruning and refinement prove that—IKYK). But maybe we think that what He’s asked us to do should always be enjoyable because that is how his call typically begins…surrounded with excitement and eagerness. You have all the “feels” so to speak. Most of the time I’m just enthralled and amazed God would actually speak to me. But somewhere along the way the excitement wears off and the feelings and emotional high goes away—and the question stands, will you still do what he’s called you to do even when you don’t feel like doing it. Even when it doesn’t sound fun or exciting. What is your ‘why’. Is there a bit of unbelief, that maybe God won’t actually work and move through something that isn’t fun, that doesn’t bring you pleasure all the time, that may even feel like more work than it is worth—aka the mundane. Our “why” has to be so substantive that it will actually push us into obedience and faithfulness even when we don’t feel like doing what he’s called us to do anymore.

I’ve been reflecting on the mundane. The day in and day out routines of life. Don’t get me wrong—mundane doesn’t always mean you aren’t enjoying those parts of life. I love nothing more than a mundane day at home with Elliott and my hubby! I just mean, the little things that you do so often that you don’t comprehend that it could have any actual significance or worth. But today I was reminded of Jesus’ mundane. He lived 30 years in the mundane before he started his ministry. He could’ve come to earth in God-form on a majestic cloud from heaven, stepped foot on this earth and began his ministry to reconcile us to himslef. But instead, he chose to come as a baby. The humblest form. The most vulnerable form. The most dependent form of humanity. What God is this that he would meet us in our mundane! He could’ve easily skipped all the mornings with mom and dad, the school lunches, the homework, and the CHORES. But he didn’t. When we think of Jesus we know he humbled himself in obedience to God even to the point of death (Philippians 2: 8), which is completely overwhelming to my little mind! But he also lived a life of faithfulness and obedience to his assignment even in the mundane—30 years of day to day living, with no public ministry and no miracles (that we know of)! Though He was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges and took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being (Philippians 2: 6-7). But our most important instruction comes in verse 5– We must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had! He must’ve created the mundane to have meaning that is so beyond our comprehension that he would be willing to humbly submit himself to it for 30 years before doing what he came to do for humanity! This kind of thinking is ‘child-like’—literally.

His faithfulness and obedience in the mundane was so eternal— in Philippians 2, Paul lumps not only his death on the cross, but his obedience to the mundane days of human form in a grand ‘THEREFORE’ statement. He says… Therefore, [Because of what Christ did]—God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names! We have to know that God can make your obedience in the mundane, eternal and lasting. Nothing is ever wasted on Him, no work is ever useless or in vain. Your most mundane moment can have deep eternal impact. HE is your “why”.

After Paul instructs us to have the same attitude as Christ—He tells us to obey God with deep reverence and fear because God is working in us, giving us the DESIRE and the POWER to do what pleases him (Philippians 2:12-13)! Well isn’t that just the perfect promise. We are so one with Christ that he will not only change our heart and mind to begin to desire to do what he has called us to do, but he will give us the literal power to accomplish it and make it happen! I find so often though, that the fruit of desire comes after a step of faith. For example, I didn’t want to sit down to write this post—but I felt the Holy Spirit burning inside me and once I chose obedience and faithfulness to what he has called me to do instead of what I felt like doing (which was watching tv lol), I find myself actually wanting to write and it reignites the joy/fulfillment/purpose of why I write.

Paul is awesome. He continues on in verses 14-18 instructing us to do literally everything (including the mundane) without complaining and hold firmly to Christ because on the day of His return we can be proud that we did not run the race of life in vain and that our work was not useless. Oh this is my heart’s cry!! Don’t let my days be meaningless. I don’t need a following, fame, or fortune. But don’t let my mundane be meaningless! Oh God, don’t let me toil my days in vain. Only God can give eternal purpose to what the world deems as purposeless, to what you feel is the mundane.

I’ve been mediating on Psalm 90 and asking that God would renew my mind and heart to the reality of the brevity of life. With Elliott’s first year flying by so fast—I’m deeply aware that our life is just a brief moment in the scope of eternity. He’s put a longing in our hearts to want to build something that lasts. I will wrap up this post with a prayer I’ve adapted from Psalm 90.

Lord, you are my home, my dwelling place, my refuge, my stability. Forever you have been God. Before you birthed the entire world—from beginning to end you are God. You have our days numbered and in the scope of eternity it is so brief. It’s like the span from the time I wake up to the time I forget what I dreamed about. Our life is like grass that springs up in the morning, but by evening it is withered. You give the breath of life and you take it away. We are held in your hand and every moment of every day is already known and written by you, God. You are outside of time. You are eternal. Teach me to realize the brevity of life so that I may grow in wisdom and the fear of the Lord. Teach me to number my days and live with an eternal mindset to love and serve you, knowing that my obedience in the mundane will yield eternal fruit in your kingdom. Satisfy me each morning with your unfailing love so that I may sing for joy to the end of my life. When the day-to-day wears on me and I feel purposeless—I know that you are the only one that can give me eternal purpose. Give me gladness and joy in the mundane that can only come from a life in Christ. I repent for when I walk in unbelief, feeling like you wouldn’t work and move in the mundane parts of my life. Let us, your servants, see your work again! Let my children see your glory! May the Lord show us his approval. Establish the work of our hands, Lord. Yes, establish—make eternal—the work of our hands! Let my life, even the mundane, be a fragrance of worship to you, Jesus. Teach me your ways to walk in faithfulness and obedience in the mundane.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.