Laundry to fold. Dishes to wash. Beds to make. Meals to cook. Floors to vacuum. Bathrooms to clean. Children to encourage. Husband to love. These are the routine of most of my days.
It’s not glamorous, this day-to-day existence of mine. In fact, it’s a very ordinary, fairly mundane life. I’m a wife, a mom, a Bible study leader, a friend, a blogger, and a missionary.
Wait? A missionary? Really? Don’t they all live in Africa without internet and eat weird soups made of bugs and weeds?
That’s what we think, isn’t it? Missionaries are those “super saints” God uses in huge ways to impact thousands of people. Most of us are nothing like that. Our greatest accomplishment on any given day can be just fixing a meal everyone in our family will eat. That doesn’t seem very life changing.
I’ve been co-leading a group of over 350 through The Bible in 90 Days this summer. Last week we read Ecclesiastes. If you haven’t read it, here’s a synopsis: Life is meaningless—everything from work to wisdom, pleasure to personal fulfillment—none of it really matters, according to Solomon. He concludes his contemplation with these words:
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13 – 14 NIV, emphasis added
Three little words jumped out to me: every hidden thing.
Does it ever feel like no one sees, notices, or cares what you are doing? As parents we spend our days wiping noses and instructing in godliness. As spouses we invest in one another and our life-long covenant. As friends we listen and encourage. At work and at home we do so many hidden things, words and deeds never brought into recognition.
But God knows … He sees and it will all be brought into judgment. Not just the ways we’ve failed, but also—and even more beautiful!—the ways we’ve succeeded, the good things we’ve done.
The little things, the unnoticed actions, the ignored words, the unrecognized deeds, each one matters. For nothing is hidden from Him.
How does this truth encourage you?
About Teri Lynne Underwood
Very well said, Teri Lynne! I love that reminder – we’re missionaries in our own homes. All that matters is fearing God and keeping His commandments. Lots of those things are the hidden things. Even the mundane things are part of a bigger purpose. Thanks for sharing this truth!
Thank you, Kristen. I have found such peace in the awareness that nothing is hidden from Him. He sees the smallest things we do and hears the softest words we whisper in His name … all for His glory.
Love this! Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Jen, for joining us and for taking time to leave a comment. What a blessing!
Thank you for sharing this truth today. I often wonder if anything I do is seen by anyone. There are days that go by without anyone noticing. But I have to remind myself who I do it for. “Do all for the glory of God”. So thankful the little things I do each day are not hidden from the one that truly matters.
Barbie, sometimes it does feel like we spend our days in small things, doesn’t it? But God sees … and that is reason to be diligent and faithful.