Finding God in the Mundane
Written by Rachel Shin
Although I love writing articles with lots of quips and bullet points, I felt a nudge to write a letter about finding God in the mundane. Letters are timeless, and when I’m exhausted with the daily grind a great letter has the power to steady my heart and lift my spirits.
Dear Friends,
Here’s a fun fact about me: I love looking up the root meaning of words.
Did you know that the word mundane actually comes from the Latin word mundus which translates to “worldly?” Of course, the way we typically use mundane is to describe something that’s boring or ordinary. But literally speaking, when we talk about “finding God in the mundane,” we’re really saying we’re looking for God in the world. Food for thought!
This topic has been on my mind recently as I’ve found myself wrestling with worry and anxiety for the past few months. Even though many areas of my life are thriving, it’s hard to feel fully present when sometimes I just want to check out. I’m exhausted from my day job, pursuing acting full time, balancing my work and personal life, and trying to be a functioning human being.
Whether we’re folding laundry, job searching on LinkedIn, or cooking the same meal again because that’s what’s in the budget, if we’re looking for God we’ll find Him.
When I reflect on how to find God in the day-to-day, I’m reminded of Brother Lawrence. In his book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence shares the power of meditating on God’s love while serving others. The Practice of the Presence of God reminds us that we don’t have to impress or do great things to serve others well: we need only to draw near to God and let Him fill us to overflow. The most challenging part of this practice—and it does require practice—is yielding to God so that His presence leads us as we navigate each moment from sunrise to sunset.
If we’re going about our daily lives and wondering why we’re tired, angry, irritated, obsessed with culture, greedy, and impatient it’s because we haven’t set our full gaze on Christ. Whether we’re on auto-pilot or acting out, we’re no longer responding from the grace of God but from our desire to control our circumstances by numbing or destruction. I’ve even experienced this in my own life when I run on fumes until there’s nothing left—all it takes is one small thing to set me off, and it’s not cute.
So, how do we find God in the ordinary to keep from burning out or going numb?
The simple answer is Jesus.
Jesus welcomes us to bring our weariness to him and he will give us rest in exchange (Matthew 11:28-30). It’s only in a place of full surrender where we can receive the strength for the season we’re in. Coming to Jesus as we are and waving our little white flag is the only way forward.
Whether we’re folding laundry, job searching on LinkedIn, or cooking the same meal again because that’s what’s in the budget, if we’re looking for God we’ll find him. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” That’s a promise that we can hold on to—no matter how boring, pointless, or humbling our tasks may seem. If we fix our attention on God, no matter what we’re doing, it becomes praise because it’s unto Him.
A practical way to apply this in daily life is to pause throughout the day and fix your attention on God. Whether that’s taking an intentional break or having a time of prayer, making space for God’s love to renew us throughout the day is essential if we want to move in His power and with His presence. I also highly recommend reading The Practice of the Presence of God.
A prayer for the weary.
Lord,
I come to you just as I am.
I open my heart to you.
Come and have your way in my life.
I want to be your vessel,
Overflowing with joy.
Help me to lay down any weariness
At the cross.
I repent for trying to do life in my own strength.
I repent for dismissing your beauty and ignoring you.
Help me to see you wherever I go and
Be a light to those around me.
Give me your strength and peace in this season.
Help me to trust you and lean fully on your grace.
Amen.
I hope this letter encouraged you to take a moment to rest in God’s but presence throughout your day.
Abundant blessings to you,
Rachel
Related Articles
Embracing Advent
Do you always look forward to Christmas with eager anticipation… but then the season flies by in a flash? Do you intend to stay present and focused… only to find yourself pulled in every direction as you rush to holiday parties, decorate the house, and spend hours...
In a Broken World, Remember, God is Good
Watching all hope slip away from the world with the numerous events from terrorists’ attacks, mass shootings, a virus spreading across continents, political and racial tensions, an insurgence in Africa, natural disasters, division within families and people of same...
Why You Should Know Your Bible Before You Talk About It
What is the Bible made of? What parts are poetry, which are narrative, and what chapters are prose discourse? What’s the arc of the story from page one to the very last verse? Who wrote it, translated it, and who decided what was canonized? These are incredibly...
