This post is part of the series His Encouragement
Other posts in this series:
Welcome! Welcome, dearest friends, to His Encouragement: Biblical Inspiration for Your Thursday. Every week, I join a few blogging friends to bring you a Bible passage and a little hope-filled discussion. We pray that these devotionals help you end your week strong in God’s love and purpose for you.
Today’s Scripture
Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters.
Luke 16:10, CEV
Wake up. Do life. Go to sleep. Wake up. Do life. Go to sleep. Wake up. Do life…
Life is like a river. Sometimes the water is rough and fast-moving. Sometimes the river is slow and smooth. When we are in the midst of the challenging rapids of life, we often long for the placidity of those quieter days. We think: “If only…”
But the quieter days, the gentle waters, can pose a challenge all their own. Sometimes life can get… Well, down-right mundane. Day in, day out it is the same old, same old. When everyday life becomes mere routine, there is a danger of forgetting our purpose, losing our joy, growing complacent, and becoming discontent.
A discontented heart often leads to complaining about the blessings the Lord has given to us and coveting that which He has given to someone else.
Trusting is hard
I get it. I’ve been there.
Many years ago when it seemed like everyone I knew, including my sisters, were getting married and settling down, I was single and waiting. I waited a long time — sometimes patiently and sometimes painfully. It was very hard to find meaning in the everyday when you are waiting for years. I could have so easily taken the reins and done things my way.
But I had read what happened Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar when they tried to do it their way instead of God’s way. I knew the troubles that arose after Jacob tried to fix his uncle’s deception his way, and then the in-fighting that divided that family and led to Joseph being sold into slavery by his own brothers. When David had a moment of weakness and sought protection from the Philistines against Saul instead of trusting in God, it did not go well.
What about my story? Eventually, in His own time, the Lord brought my husband and I together. We now have an amazing testimony to share about how He used the marriage of my sister and his friend to bring me from the other side of the country. We met and, like they say, the rest is history.
Everyday blessings
The daily grind has a way of wearing us down and exposing our innermost vulnerabilities and fears. They build slowly, gradually, almost imperceptibly until we are so focused on our worries and fears that we have forgotten that the Lord is on our side.
I was in that place not too long ago myself. I was emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted. Getting through each day was a struggle. I pushed through out of a sense of responsibility. But I had lost my joy. I had forgotten my purpose.
Perhaps you are experiencing something similar in your life right now. May this word of encouragement be a much needed wake up call, shaking you out of the stupor of your everyday life.
Find meaning now
Take a moment today to pause and intentionally recognize the Lord’s blessings in your everyday life. Then read Luke 16:10. This passage tells us that the little things we do in our everyday lives are just as important as the big things.
Don’t allow yourself to go down the path of complaining and discontent. Pray for the Lord to rekindle the fire in your heart and remind you of your true purpose!
When you do, you will find meaning in the mundane. You will rejoice in the everyday blessings. You will be ready for more. And the Lord will trust you with the more important matters of faith.
What verse has touched your heart this week? Share in the comments below!
Be sure to also visit my fellow bloggers and read their encouragement for your Thursday as well:
- Trisha of Joy of Reading
- Nicole of The Christian Fiction Girl
- Jessica of A Baker’s Perspective
- Becca of The Becca Files
- Gina of Stories by Gina
- Rev. Rebecca Writes
- Andi of Radiant Light
- Leslie of Words of Hope
- Claudia of By Claudia Moser
- Keneesha of Women Loving God’s Way
Hi there, blogger. Would you like to join us in sharing encouragement from the Word of God every Thursday? Don’t be shy! Contact Trisha or Nicole today!
Featured photo of Jacquelyn by Bradley Van Sant.
Continue reading this series:
Speak up for those who cannot (His Encouragement)
Your post today hit the nail right on its head. I’m so overwhelmed. Work is insane. The chores at home are piling up. The book reviews are crazy. I’ve basically stopped taking on reviews but the books keep coming. I feel super exhausted. And, when I get downtime it goes by in the blink of an eye. I’ve been praying, but after reading your post today, I think I’m mainly complaining at God. I need to do better than that. Thank you for your post today. 🙂
Praise the Lord! I get overwhelmed sometimes with all the various aspects of my daily life, too, and have to remind myself to focus on the blessings.
Thanks for the encouragement! I find raising small children some of the most mundane sometimes and the most thankless sometimes. I’m always having to remind myself to delight in these moments!
I am glad you found encouragement, Brynn! You are right. Often this stage in life – having small children – is thankless while being extremely demanding on us. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but being a parent can be hard and overwhelming at times. I’m learning to pause in those moments, breathe, and remember the blessings. God bless! ❤️