The Ministry of Showing Up

Lately, I've been thinking about faithfulness.

Not the kind of faithfulness that makes headlines. Not the kind that gets applause or recognition. Just the quiet, everyday kind.

The kind that gets up in the morning, goes to work, takes care of responsibilities, answers emails, folds laundry, pays bills, and does it all over again tomorrow.

If I'm being honest, I've been tired lately.

Not tired of God.

Not tired of writing.

Not tired of ministry.

Just plain old tired.

And in those moments, it's easy to think that what we're doing doesn't matter much. After all, we're not standing on a stage, leading thousands of people, or watching miracles happen before our eyes.

But the more I read Scripture, the more I'm reminded that much of what God calls faithfulness happens in ordinary places.

Moses spent years tending sheep before God called him to lead a nation.

David spent countless days in the fields before he ever sat on a throne.

Even Jesus spent most of His earthly life in relative obscurity before beginning His public ministry.

The truth is, most of life is lived in the ordinary.

And maybe that's exactly where God does some of His greatest work.

We tend to think ministry only happens in churches, on mission trips, or behind microphones. But I've come to believe there is also a ministry of showing up.

Showing up when you're tired.

Showing up to pray when you don't feel particularly spiritual.

Showing up for your family.

Showing up for your church.

Showing up for your responsibilities.

Showing up for the people God has placed in your life.

Nobody may notice those moments. Most people will never see them. But God does.

Some days my greatest act of faith isn't writing a book, sharing my testimony, or serving in ministry. Some days it's simply getting up, putting on my makeup AGAIN, and trusting that God will meet me right where I am.

And He always does.

One day, when we stand before the Lord, I don't believe He'll ask us how impressive we were. I don't think He'll ask how many followers we had or how many people knew our names.

What He values is faithfulness.

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

Not famous.

Not successful.

Faithful.

So if you're in an ordinary season right now, if you're tired, if you're doing your best to keep showing up day after day, I want to encourage you today:

Your faithfulness matters.

God sees every prayer.

Every act of obedience.

Every unseen sacrifice.

Every ordinary Tuesday.

Keep showing up.

The God who sees in secret sees you too. And I have a feeling that one day we'll look back and discover that some of the holiest moments of our lives happened in the ordinary days we almost overlooked.

Until then, let's keep showing up.

One day at a time.