Is God interested in the small things?

Hey friend,

Welcome to the “An Ordinary Christian Life” Series.

This is a new series where we consider some of the day-to-day realities of the Christian life.

In today’s post, I will be considering this question:

Is God interested in the Mundane?

If you are anything like me, then you probably grew up on the teaching that God is all-powerful and all-seeing, able to do incredible and life-changing things.

The subtle effect of this sort of teaching, at least for me, was that God was too busy doing these big and amazing things to worry about the mundane.

Basically, when it came to everyday things I was on my own.

It would be up to me to resolve and decide such things but for the big things, you know – getting into school, getting a job, getting married and having kids— I could call on God.

In other words, I had this sense that we were to leave God out of the little and seemingly inconsequential things and only call on him when there is a lot more at stake.

You can imagine my shock when I found out that God is not busy but a busybody (I write this with the utmost respect).

I found that I have a God who is interested in every aspect of my day, even in the mundane.

A God who is never tired of hearing from me or wondering when I will learn to do things independently.

The Image of the Father

I think I had unknowingly equated our relationship with God to our relationship with our earthly fathers. We know they love us, but we can’t go to them with everything.

We are to leave out the small (mundane) things and only share the big & hairy stories or issues.

That was the way of things, right?

A father who lovingly encourages you to learn to sort out your problems – get your car oil fixed without calling him or your lightbulb changed.

A father who expects you to be able to balance your chequebook and keep your bills in order.

And that’s not a bad thing, we are not expected to depend on our parents forever. Adulthood means learning to stand on our own two feet and making sense of the world and our place in the world.

But we cannot live out our relationship with our heavenly father through the lens of our relationships or non-relationships with our earthly fathers. This will only provide a distorted image of God’s love for us.

 

An image marred by sin, selfishness, and imperfection.

This was what he was showing us when he said:

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

Matthew 7:9-11

 

Our relationship with God will always be better than the best earthly relationship because in some ways it is incomparable.

He is not too busy to hear us nor too tired to answer us.

His word says, “…without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5b

This is unequivocal.

You may be wondering:

“Chioma, can I ask God if I should wear the green dress or the red dress?”

“Can I ask God which church department to serve in?”

“Is it okay to check in with God before I say yes to requests?”

Yes, yes, and yes to all the many seemingly small questions and requests you have been meaning to ask.

Ask him and trust that He will answer you.

 

The Reality of the Mundane

Now before you run off, there are a few housekeeping rules.

“Our ability to relate with God is directly connected to the depth of our relationship with him.

It is our knowledge of God that feeds our relationship with him.”

This is not just knowing about him but knowing him.

As we know him, we know how to talk to him and most especially, we learn how to hear him when he responds.

Knowing God is not just the greatest treasure in this life, it is the very basis of eternal life.

 

Our Lord and Saviour said this:

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.”

John 17:3 (AMP)

 

Finally, I pray you to remember that God is interested in everything that concerns you and this is the beauty of the ordinary Christian life.

 

Amen