If you’re reading this post right now, God has a plan for you. A glorious, fulfilling plan that can quicken even the most lethargic pulse. One that can give meaning to the mundane and add joy to the most excruciating–or mind numbing–of trials.

I’ve stayed home for over seventeen years now. That’s been 17 years of making beds, doing dishes, and washing stinky socks. Seventeen years of completing tasks most would never noticed and many of which would only need to be completed again.

I must have spent hours playing dolls. Yes, I know, engaging in “floor time” with our children creates priceless memories and deepens the maternal-child bond. I got that, and I was grateful for it. But a grown woman can only burp a plastic doll so many times before her sanity begins to wane.

When our daughter was young, and my days were spent singing lullabies (the same ones over and over) and waiting, in a silent house, for her to awake from a nap, the monotony of it all became unbearable!

I felt insignificant and unvalued, and began to wonder, what if I never made the bed today? What if I let the dishes sit? Extrapolate this out… What if I did nothing but occupy space and take in air? Would anyone notice? Would anyone care?

In other words: Does this--whatever this was at that moment–really matter?

But then one day, an idea hit: What if I used our play time as an avenue for learning? About numbers, colors, shapes, letters, Jesus? And so, I began to count the dolls clothing as we dressed her for the hundredth time. Our Barbies went to church and learned to pray. We formed shapes and created patterns with the Legos, and halved our pancakes at breakfast and sandwiches at lunch.

As we did, as I began to see purpose in every activity, the monotony gave way to excitement. Because the mundane had meaning.

We were created to do, but not just to do; to do that which has meaning. Meaning that will last beyond today.

I love how Paul puts it in Ephesians 2:10  “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (NLT).

God’s masterpiece. Handiwork. Workmanship. Lovingly, attentively, purposefully crafted, moment by moment, experience by experience, with every trial, setback, and triumph.

All of it has deep and eternal purpose.

Each of us have a deep and eternal purpose, a role to play, one that was planned by our Creator long before we took our first breathe.

Pause and contemplate that for a moment. Throughout our life, from the times we took our first steps to this day and until we breath our last, God has been watching us. Molding us. Directing us.

Leading us from the meaningless and mundane toward the abundant life Jesus promised.

Our job? Keep stepping, with our eyes on our Lord and Savior, in surrendered obedience.

Let’s talk about this. Where are you today? Have you discovered your purpose and calling? If you have, let me ask you–what is the human element? In other words, in what ways are you, right now, using your gifts to reach out to others, encourage them, and point them to Christ?

Look back over your life, evaluating the joys and sorrows, in light of grace. Can you see God’s hand? His molding, crafting, stretching, and guiding? Before I go, I’d like to leave you with a verse, one I wrote out and have sitting on my desk.

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do” 1 Thessalonians 1:11

So much truth packed in that verse! Whenever I read those words, “worthy of His call”, I can’t help but think of all Christ gave–His very life–to save me. Truly, I will never be worthy of my call, but that doesn’t mean I can’t pursue it with all that I am and have. For His glory, and this is key, for it’s very easy to get so caught up in the call, we soon lose sight of the One who called us, allowing insecurities, pride, or selfish ambition to cloud our view.

I hope to revisit 1 Thes.1:11 in my next post. To my blogging friends, I invite you to join me. As iron sharpens iron, we can all learn from each other, and I’d love to read your perspectives on this verse. 🙂

What are your thoughts on this verse? Do any words stick out to you? Do you have any favorite verses that help you remain focused on the eternal? If so, share them with us! Join the conversation here or at Living by Grace on Facebook. If today’s post sparked an excitement within, I encourage you to join our month-long study on surrender. Find out more here.

Before you go, I encourage you to pray both of the verses I’ve shared this morning. Then, prayerfully listen to this song, making it your heart’s cry to God today.