From the ordinary, suddenly …

One of the most annoying aspects of social media is the constant flood of posts from pastors screaming for the spectacular, the “great” achievements, and greatness itself, as if every moment must be some monumental miracle experience from God.

All along, forgetting what God can (and does) do with the ordinary moment.

God doesn’t keep us spiritually piqued every moment of every day; we have a lot of “ordinary” hours and days, even years. Laundry still has to be done, dishes washed, and lawns mowed. But God still achieves the extraordinary in the midst of our ordinary.

Here’s a great example. In Luke 2, we read of the incredible event of God being born into this world as a man in a lowly stable in Bethlehem. It’s a night described like this …

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly …” Luke 2:8, 9a.

It was an ordinary night. Shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks like they did night, after night, after night. But on this night, during a very ordinary moment, God not only did the extraordinary, but the astounding!

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them … but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people’,” Luke 2:9a, 10.

God hasn’t designed for us to live every moment bathed in spiritual ecstasy. In His perfect timing, He pierces our lives with actions that are amazing, like this …

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son … “ Galatians 4:4.

A contributing factor to a lack of faith and disappointment with God — even anger toward God — is feeding the notion that any day that isn’t riddled with the astounding is sub-par for God. Of course, that’s overlooking the innumerable miracles it takes for God to keep His entire creation under control every moment of every day as He does. That seems mediocre if it doesn’t personally push our emotions and “spiritual adrenalin.”

Here’s a word of advice: chill out!

God will do in your tomorrows more than you could ever hope or dream. So if today is just an ordinary day, another ordinary moment, just be patient and wait. For it’s out of our ordinary, at just that right time, that suddenly God does the astounding.

Be ready!

“That is what the scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him,” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Scotty