How to Transcend Your "Ordinary" Life

I’m a homebody. I love being home above all other places. I feel a sense of comfort, security and familiarity within my own walls. I can be myself here. It’s where my favorite people live.

Yet I also see the baskets of laundry on the floor, the dishes on the counter, and the crumpled socks that my children strip from their feet and leave tossed on the bathroom tiles.

I see a meal plan that requires me to thaw chicken (oops, too late—again) and a stack of bills that need to get paid.

I see ordinary, mundane, unglamorous work. Responsibilities. Annoyances.

That is one view of my home. The pervasive view, I’m afraid.

But what about another perspective?

You are I are children of God. He gives us each certain work to do, and He gives us the strength and wisdom to do it. This is Bible truth.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

It makes sense, then, to conclude that wherever we are—wherever I am, wherever you are when we’re doing the work—could be considered God’s workplace. His holy office, so to speak.

And this heavenly workplace? It includes our homes. Our cubicles. Our laundry rooms, our lunch rooms, our minivans.

These are all divine sanctuaries overseen by God, the CEO, in which the work of the Lord is being done day after day.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)

So essentially, everything we moms do—whether it’s wiping bottoms or balancing the checkbook or chopping vegetables for dinner—is all done for the glory of God. He sees it. He values it. Therefore, we can choose to view our work as dull and unglamorous, or we can seize those dull, ordinary moments for a greater purpose.

I call it “transcending the ordinary.”

Here’s how we’re going to do it:

1. Remember you’re working for God, not humans.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).

That means every task big and small holds inherent value far beyond what we can imagine. Your directives come straight from the CEO, and He only assigns work that matters.

2. Make gratitude a habit.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Tired of washing dishes? Thank God for the abundant food He allowed you to serve and the people He allowed you to share it with.

Grumpy about math homework? Praise Jesus we live in a country where education is accessible and our kids have opportunities to thrive.

Wishing you could take your own bubble bath instead of having to scrub down the kids? Spend some time praying over them and thanking God for their able bodies and precious voices. Even when your patience is maxed, you know you wouldn’t really rather live alone.

3. Share the gospel.

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (Psalm 96:3)

Everywhere we go and in everything we do—whether at home or school or the ballet class parent seats—we have an opportunity to share Jesus with the people around us. And I’m not talking about preaching. We can show the world Jesus by the way we interact, how we demonstrate kindness and grace. He’s in the simple courtesy of smiling, paying attention, actually listening to what people say. Empathy makes a mighty witness.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

As Christians, something in us ought to look different from the rest of the world. The Holy Spirit is attractive and compelling. Our job is to let Him be seen through us in every situation. Doesn’t that change the way you look at every otherwise boring circumstance?

Sometimes our holy work looks like folding laundry or spreading peanut butter. And sometimes, on rare occasions, God lets us catch a glimpse of how our work impacts eternity. But honestly? It shouldn’t matter. Because He says our work is important, regardless of how the world values it. And we either believe Him or we don’t.

Let’s choose to believe it today.

Our work may not be glamorous. But it is most definitely glorious.

Blessings,
Becky