Maybe success is just faithfulness.

23 Aug Maybe success is just faithfulness.

Routine can turn the most meaningful things into monotony if we let it. For me, this summer was filled with early mornings, making breakfast by myself for the team before most were awake, praying that we had enough eggs. Lunch breaks for Brooke and I often meant trying to cut semi-thawed chicken, scrubbing the goo off of our hands, devouring a sandwich, and running to the van. Afternoons were regularly filled with braids, hand games, and hugs from my friends in the Bordos. Evenings were spent sweating and singing in the kitchen with other summer staff, trying to get dinner ready on time (I highly recommend “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship). Every night we would hear how the team processed that day, and then Dean would decide what time breakfast was the next day so we could do it all again. It was busy and messy and wonderful.

I went into this summer wanting so desperately to be successful – to be helpful, effective, and wise. To be honest, I was often weary of being faithful in the seemingly small things. Especially at first, it didn’t feel like I was being the hands and feet of Jesus. It didn’t feel like I was doing an important job. Much more of my time was spent doing ordinary things than extraordinary.

I understand now that the Lord was using the routine things to sharpen me. By teaching me to be faithful in the little things, I was ready to listen to him in the bigger things. Many days, faithfulness meant being willing to accept correction. Sometimes it meant getting out of my comfort zone to meet new people. Sometimes faithfulness meant talking to someone with compassion when all I wanted was to crawl into bed.  

Because of the Lord stretching me in these ways, I was equipped to comfort mothers with children in the hospital, bring food for the hungry and soda for the thirsty, and even be a friend to a few of the girls at Sparrow Academy. Some days being faithful led me to amazing conversations and even breakthroughs with English Class students that I will always treasure. Every situation, whether easy or difficult, comfortable or not, big or small, is an opportunity to grow. We just have to choose to see it that way. This is both an encouragement and a challenge.

In the seemingly meaningless moments, God wants to show us more of who He is. We allow Him to do so when we die to ourselves and ask God how to serve Him. I have learned this summer that we as followers of Christ need to make ourselves available to his power and plan, and let go of our own.

Ask yourself how you define success. For a long time, my life was based on thinking success looks like being the best or the most effective. Ask yourself what your life would look like if you put that definition of success to the side and replaced it with faithfulness. Look for where you are already called to be on mission. Maybe it is in an underserved neighborhood, your office, your family, even in your kitchen! It may be in a situation you’ve already been sent into; it will likely be out of your comfort zone.

The truth is that God sends us into ordinary tasks just as much as he sends us into extraordinary moments. He uses both to build His kingdom and both to reveal His character. God wants ALL that I am; and he wants ALL that you are. He wants to be part of our incredible days, and the normal ones too.

Romans 8:28 says,

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.

This is not to say that bad, frustrating, or even boring things won’t be a part of our lives as followers of Christ. But rather, if we let Him, He will use all things – every moment – to pull us closer to Him because He is good.

Madi