When Obedience Feels Ordinary
Finding purpose and joy in the unnoticed yes
I’m a millennial. With this title often comes a host of blanket stereotypes—one of the most common being that we were told we could “be anything we want when we grow up.”
Want to be a doctor? Go for it. An astronaut? Shoot for the moon. A rockstar? Here’s a guitar.
To our parents’ credit, there’s nothing wrong with encouraging kids to pursue their dreams. In fact, I plan to do the same with my own children. That kind of encouragement is likely what helped many people achieve their goals. It created new industries and reshaped existing ones. It empowered us and emboldened us. But for some of us, it also left behind a lingering sense of inadequacy—the feeling that there’s always something more we should be chasing.
This need to achieve all our dreams, combined with the ever-present world of social media, has left many of us feeling as though we’re falling short. We spend hours scrolling through the highlight reels of other people’s lives. We watch all they’ve accomplished and begin to feel like we aren’t doing enough. We nitpick, we compare, and slowly, we lose our focus.
So what happens if we don’t become a world-renowned surgeon or sell out Madison Square Garden? What if our lives end up looking a little more ordinary?
For those who follow Christ, the answer is simple—though it takes practice to live it out. Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
This verse clearly reframes everything. Still, as a millennial who wrestles with the desire to live a “postworthy” life, I often struggle with the idea that what I do each day is significant or worthy of “doing in the name of the Lord Jesus”. I’m a stay-at-home mom, not an astrophysicist.
But here’s the truth: Jesus was a carpenter. Not a government official, not a celebrated warrior. He lived a relatively normal life, filled with ordinary tasks. If the God of all creation was content to build tables and benches, who am I to believe that making sandwiches for my children is somehow less important?
If the God of all creation was content to build tables and benches, who am I to believe that making sandwiches for my children is somehow less important?
There’s nothing wrong with having ambition or striving for excellence. But if your ultimate goal is to serve Christ, achievement isn’t the point. Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” And Ephesians 6:7 echoes this: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”
In the Kingdom of God, obedience is measured by the heart—not by accolades, titles, or social media engagement.
So if your life feels “normal” right now, take a moment to notice where God is still calling you to obedience. Those late nights caring for your children with patience and joy? That’s obedience and ultimately worship. Mopping cafeteria floors after the last bell rings? Obedience and worship. Submitting a thoughtful report by your work deadline? Obedience and worship.
In the Kingdom of God, obedience is measured by the heart—not by accolades, titles, or social media engagement.
In her book Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life, Tish Harrison Warren writes, “Everyone wants a revolution. No one wants to do the dishes.” The comparison is dramatic, but the point stands. Someone has to do the dishes. Maybe that someone is you—at least for now.
Whether this is your forever or just a season, build the habit of viewing ordinary practices as the acts of obedience and worship that they truly are. The moment we start treating our everyday tasks as Kingdom work is the moment we truly start walking in our purpose, no matter our status or achievements.
