Wow. I grew up in the era of “God has wildly amazing plans for your life” but that was THE message. Nothing on suffering or what if life doesn’t end up perfect? It took years to unlearn wrong theology and to actually study the word to see the kind of life Jesus lived - humble, quiet, obscure. So much of what you wrote resonated with my heart. Thank you.
Yes! Hard, but worth it! ❤️ I shared your post with the leadership team at my church and we had a powerful discussion. Thank you for the work you are doing.
Wholly agree. We read Bible stories imagining ourselves to be the lead characters but for every Moses there’s 2 million of God’s people just walking around in the desert.
This is awesome 👏 more and more, I’m beginning to cement this truth in my heart. I grew up being told that I would do great things from many pastors, leaders and ministers. Not every one is a David or Elijah. There’s multitudes called to live ordinary lives.
I always wondered about that, It really is a mystery to me why most of us just get to live mundane lives, you would think that everyone has somekind of a plan, maybe not a big one, but somekind of plan or purpose. Yet some people does appear that God uses them in a big way like Billy Graham.
This kind of thinking is what brings about my despair and and my mind will start to wander and think that we are alone in the Universe and that God does not exist (scary thoughts).
I guess i will have to leave this one up to the mystery of life and God's plans.
Mundane is beautiful. And in the backwards, inside out, upside down Kingdom of Jesus, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the bigger and better thing after all. Don’t lose hope! Keep being faithful.
Perhaps we can define “Big Plan.” We could see it in the Lord Jesus (Mk 10:45) and the apostles Paul (Eph 1:1) and Peter (Gal 2:7-8). But you are right to point out the majority of us would not be in that category. Moreover, there are different periods or seasons of life.
For 10 years I worked at several jobs, then God called my wife and me to serve as missionaries for 19 years. We returned home to our small city 9 years ago. Now we take care of aged parents, work at a second career and be ordinary. Is that God’s plan? Yes, just that it is not the glamorous Big Plan some Christians paint it to be.
Agree. I grew up in a culture that said, "Do big things for God." Most of life is spent in doing the ordinary things. I can attest that most missionary life is less about ministry and more about survival in another country. It is no more glamorous or God-honoring than teaching Sunday School to precious kids.
I've found myself in prayer for hours, seeking God's will.
At the end of that time, when no message regarding big things appeared, I realized I could keep quite busy with little ones. There was always something little to do. I could always put away the dishes, empty the trash, put fresh TP in the bathroom. The biggies, stay married and raise healthy kids, were still there, but little tasks made the big goals happen.
I think this way of thinking, that God has big plans, stops us enjoying each day. I’ve seen people frustrated that God isn’t doing enough to help them be big.
Totally agree. Just live your life. Learn more about God. Listen to Him. Find peace. ❤️ Great post.
If God had big plans for my life, I've found ways to mess up those plans. Today, almost a half century old, I wish I'd had more wherewithal to consider my own plans for being productive a bit at a time. You know, working the steady job rather than dreaming about God's big plans for ... whatever. Instead, I sat around and waited for God to work.
Genesis seems clear that we were placed here to do work.
Let's start small and be OK if small is all there is for us.
You are welcome! It’s something I’ve been pondering personally for a few years now even as I write books and such. I have NO desire to be an influencer. Fame isn’t good for us.
I have been thinking about this a lot this week. I feel like you were writing for me - even though I know that it is okay, good even, it feels like I am continually making peace with being ordinary. I have written about it before and equate myself to a wooden spoon. :) thanks!
I’m so glad! It really is okay to be small and ordinary AND faithful! God doesn’t need famous people, just ones who will follow Him and love those around them.
Due in part to my musical, and some oratory, skills, I once believed, and was told by many around me, that God had big plans for my life. I’m older now and have lived most of it. I learned, like you, that “many are called but few are chosen” can also apply to the “big” jobs. Not many are called to be the eye. Many more are called to be lymph nodes or thyroid glands. I’m thrilled now to be where I am, secreting hormones or some such.
The body definitely needs those hormones and doesn’t operate well without them! And many who end up in the public eye shouldn’t be as we’ve seen over and over again. 😬
I've been working through this and writing about this idea recently. Thank you for this post! Such a needed message for this time.
I’m so glad!
Wow. I grew up in the era of “God has wildly amazing plans for your life” but that was THE message. Nothing on suffering or what if life doesn’t end up perfect? It took years to unlearn wrong theology and to actually study the word to see the kind of life Jesus lived - humble, quiet, obscure. So much of what you wrote resonated with my heart. Thank you.
I’m so glad it resonated with you. It’s super hard to unlearn these false theologies. 😢
Yes! Hard, but worth it! ❤️ I shared your post with the leadership team at my church and we had a powerful discussion. Thank you for the work you are doing.
Wholly agree. We read Bible stories imagining ourselves to be the lead characters but for every Moses there’s 2 million of God’s people just walking around in the desert.
There you go!
This is awesome 👏 more and more, I’m beginning to cement this truth in my heart. I grew up being told that I would do great things from many pastors, leaders and ministers. Not every one is a David or Elijah. There’s multitudes called to live ordinary lives.
Yes there is! And that is a good thing.
Loved this! Thank you 🙏
You’re welcome!
I always wondered about that, It really is a mystery to me why most of us just get to live mundane lives, you would think that everyone has somekind of a plan, maybe not a big one, but somekind of plan or purpose. Yet some people does appear that God uses them in a big way like Billy Graham.
This kind of thinking is what brings about my despair and and my mind will start to wander and think that we are alone in the Universe and that God does not exist (scary thoughts).
I guess i will have to leave this one up to the mystery of life and God's plans.
Mundane is beautiful. And in the backwards, inside out, upside down Kingdom of Jesus, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the bigger and better thing after all. Don’t lose hope! Keep being faithful.
Perhaps we can define “Big Plan.” We could see it in the Lord Jesus (Mk 10:45) and the apostles Paul (Eph 1:1) and Peter (Gal 2:7-8). But you are right to point out the majority of us would not be in that category. Moreover, there are different periods or seasons of life.
For 10 years I worked at several jobs, then God called my wife and me to serve as missionaries for 19 years. We returned home to our small city 9 years ago. Now we take care of aged parents, work at a second career and be ordinary. Is that God’s plan? Yes, just that it is not the glamorous Big Plan some Christians paint it to be.
I think that God’s plan is always important even if it is mundane and ordinary, but as you say definitely not always glamorous.
God predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son (Rom 8:29) - that is big enough for me.
Love this!
Agree. I grew up in a culture that said, "Do big things for God." Most of life is spent in doing the ordinary things. I can attest that most missionary life is less about ministry and more about survival in another country. It is no more glamorous or God-honoring than teaching Sunday School to precious kids.
“Most of life is spent in doing the ordinary things”
And this shouldn’t make us feel less than. This is real life with Jesus. 😊
I've found myself in prayer for hours, seeking God's will.
At the end of that time, when no message regarding big things appeared, I realized I could keep quite busy with little ones. There was always something little to do. I could always put away the dishes, empty the trash, put fresh TP in the bathroom. The biggies, stay married and raise healthy kids, were still there, but little tasks made the big goals happen.
I love this! What a great perspective.
I think this way of thinking, that God has big plans, stops us enjoying each day. I’ve seen people frustrated that God isn’t doing enough to help them be big.
Totally agree. Just live your life. Learn more about God. Listen to Him. Find peace. ❤️ Great post.
I’ve seen the big plan thinking make people struggle too. 😢
I know. It’s sad.
I don’t know about big plans for our lives, but I do believe God has “bite-size“ plans in accordance with Ephesians 2:10.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“
If God had big plans for my life, I've found ways to mess up those plans. Today, almost a half century old, I wish I'd had more wherewithal to consider my own plans for being productive a bit at a time. You know, working the steady job rather than dreaming about God's big plans for ... whatever. Instead, I sat around and waited for God to work.
Genesis seems clear that we were placed here to do work.
Let's start small and be OK if small is all there is for us.
Thanks for this piece.
You are welcome! It’s something I’ve been pondering personally for a few years now even as I write books and such. I have NO desire to be an influencer. Fame isn’t good for us.
I have been thinking about this a lot this week. I feel like you were writing for me - even though I know that it is okay, good even, it feels like I am continually making peace with being ordinary. I have written about it before and equate myself to a wooden spoon. :) thanks!
I’m so glad! It really is okay to be small and ordinary AND faithful! God doesn’t need famous people, just ones who will follow Him and love those around them.
Due in part to my musical, and some oratory, skills, I once believed, and was told by many around me, that God had big plans for my life. I’m older now and have lived most of it. I learned, like you, that “many are called but few are chosen” can also apply to the “big” jobs. Not many are called to be the eye. Many more are called to be lymph nodes or thyroid glands. I’m thrilled now to be where I am, secreting hormones or some such.
So, so true.
The body definitely needs those hormones and doesn’t operate well without them! And many who end up in the public eye shouldn’t be as we’ve seen over and over again. 😬