How We Can See God Use The Ordinary for His Extraordinary Purposes

Technology had not been my friend that day. I failed to produce a usable graphic for a writing project. The gas pump refused to read my credit card. And my depleted cell-phone battery reminded me I needed to replace my phone months ago.

Needing to accomplish at least one thing that day, I set out to purchase a new phone online. But an error message popped up, prompting me to fill in my email address. Only no space for entering an email address existed on the website. Chatting online with customer support proved futile. Unwilling to keep spinning my wheels, I politely disengaged. 

Sometimes life can feel like I’m running around in meaningless circles ~ unable to move forward. Frustration can easily hijack my focus and force my eyes off of Jesus. That’s when I need to remind myself of a story from the Old Testament.  

On what seemed like an ordinary day, a young man named Saul set off to recover a few lost donkeys. For three days he and his servant searched the hill country of Ephraim and the area around Shalisha without success (1 Samuel 9:1-4). 

Although Saul wanted to return home, his servant urged him to seek advice from the prophet Samuel. The servant even provided the silver needed to pay the prophet. As they approached town, Saul and his servant met some women who pointed them in the direction of  the prophet. (1 Samuel 9:5-14).

Samuel immediately recognized Saul as the one who had been chosen by God to govern the people of Israel. (1 Samuel 9:15-17). The following day, Samuel anointed Saul as the first King of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1).

Ironically, Saul believed he was sent on an ordinary mission to recover a few lost donkeys. But as Samuel explained to Saul, this journey was never about the donkeys ~ it simply paved the way for God to appoint Saul as king:

“As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?” (1 Samuel 9:20 NIV)

I love how all the people in this story lived ordinary lives and completed their everyday, mundane tasks. Yet as they did so, they each played a part in an extraordinary event.

• Saul’s servant gave him great advice and provided the necessary resources.
• The women drawing water pointed Saul and his servant in the right direction.
• Samuel fulfilled his responsibilities by proclaiming God’s message to Saul and the people of Israel.
• Saul accepted a unique calling from God.

As I go about my daily tasks, it’s so easy to forget how God uses me in the midst of my mundane routines to achieve His extraordinary purposes. Sometimes I give advice and provide necessary resources. Other times I point people in the right direction. Sometimes I share God’s message with others. And there are even times when I accept a special calling from God. But all of these extraordinary opportunities come to me as I take care of my ordinary business.

Wherever our travels take us, our paths will be full of everyday, mundane tasks. I pray we can be inspired by the One who uses our ordinary lives for His extraordinary purposes.