Finding Purpose in the Ordinary

By Lauren Rose Correa, February 9, 2022

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering.” Romans 12:1 The Message

I read this passage a few days ago, and since then it has been the meditation of my heart. It really stuck out to me because lately, I’ve been experiencing a bit of boredom with my life. About two years ago, I was blessed with a new car, a new job, and then a new house and a great husband. As I enjoyed decorating my home and learning more about the man I love, I experienced a bit of a high. Lately, I must confess I’ve gotten used to some of these things and am struggling with taking them for granted.

When I was younger, I had a strong sense of purpose about my job and my life. Lately, I haven’t felt that same sense of purpose. I’m just going through the motions, working Monday through Friday, living for the weekend, and feeling like it’s the same thing over and over again. For someone who really relished the excitement of having a strong sense of purpose, this is a difficult phase for me to be in.

Reading this passage was a reminder to me that my ordinary life — in God’s hands — is a powerful thing. Even when I can’t see that God is using my life in any way, it’s the little things that I do for the people closest to me that truly matter. Am I a loyal and supportive wife to my husband? Am I a loving friend to those that I share friendship with? Do I put forth my best effort at my job and bring a positive attitude to everything I do?

This past week, my husband was away on a work trip, and I quickly realized how much I have taken for granted the time we spend together on weeknights, just being silly together and watching television or cooking dinner. Those magical moments are precious to me, and having them via Facetime this week instead of in person was a reminder to me that I need to enjoy them and recognize them for how valuable they are.

It can be challenging to live an ordinary life when you are someone who craves excitement. But God lives in the ordinary and he works powerfully in the day to day. That doesn’t mean there won’t be exciting, mountaintop moments in life. Jesus spent the majority of his time on earth living the ordinary life of a carpenter, and just a few short years were spent in ministry. The extraordinary part of his life – at least the part that most would deem extraordinary – was built inside of him during his ordinary, day to day life. I pray that the same is true for me. I pray that even if I never get to see it clearly on this side of eternity, that God births something incredible out of me offering my ordinary life to him.