Mundane Holiness
Learning to experience God in the holy, everyday life
I’m trying a new rhythm this year and that looks like moving slower and being more intentional with my time. As I looked ahead to this summer, I continually felt the nudges to “take a Sabbath” for the month of July. Being a mom of a handful of children, running a ministry, and being in a season of transition—that is easier said than done. So, I’m stepping back where I can, and Substack is one of those places. I am intentionally filling my soul in this season, so that I can continue to have the capacity to continue sharing with you here. I’ve invited some dear friends, some I’ve known for years, and some I’ve just recently met, to share with you for the month of July and I’m so excited for it. I pray you are blessed by their words and presence here!
Moriah Lemoine is one of my most favorite people in the world. When she first shared her heart here in finals days of my pregnancy, I was amazed by the beauty her words portrayed. I recently was blessed to be able to spend time with her and what a joy it brought to my heart. I held this precious sister of mine as a tiny baby, I laid on the floor reading magazines with her, danced with her, and celebrated every milestone she crossed. Now, I look at her with awe as I watch her mother her own son—gently loving him, celebrating with him, and swooping him up to dance. It’s a joy to bear witness to her life and now motherhood, and I’m honored that she’s sharing a glimpse into her journey with us today. I pray you’re tenderly known with her words.
When my sister asked me to write another piece she said, “I’m looking for how you experience God in your everyday life.” That phrase kind of made me stop in my tracks, because honestly, I don’t have a great response.
I’d love to list all of the beautiful ways I experience God on a daily basis, but to be blunt, most of the time right now I struggle to see and feel the presence of God.
In this season of my life, I rarely have a quiet morning with a steaming cup of black coffee, my Bible, journal, and a perfect view of the sunrise (my ideal way to sit in God's presence). Instead, I wake up to the sound of my son through the baby monitor, which can be anytime between 5:30a.m. and 6:30a.m. I love early mornings, and if I could, I would get up well before I knew he would be up. However, most mornings I’m weary-eyed from being up multiple times in the night with my boy.
I’ve learned that getting another hour of sleep in the morning is holier than being more sleep deprived and trying to “experience God” in the way that’s most comfortable to me.
So, to be honest with you, I’m learning. Every day I’m learning how to experience God in my new mundane. Staying aware of God’s presence is much easier on days when my son sleeps well the night before, takes good naps, is happy during the day, I’m able to do a few things around the house, and I’m even able to have a few moments of peace and quiet. However, when the day is full of short naps, chasing around a not happy crawling baby, heat (I’ve never been a fan of the hot weather and it is now clear that my son takes after me), not being able to get anything done in the house, and not having any quiet moments, I find it hard to remember God is there with me in the mess.
I’m one who is naturally very hard on myself, and it is difficult for me to give myself grace in this new season. I look at my supermom sister who juggles 5 kids at home and still somehow finds time to read and write beautiful pieces (which we all love to read), and I think to myself, “Wow, I suck.” It is easy for me to fall into the trap of comparison. From my point of view, it seems like everyone else has their life together. It seems like every other new mom I know is thriving in motherhood, while I’m over here just trying to get supper on the table with a velcro baby on my hip.
Where am I going with all of this? Well, I’m speaking to myself as much as I’m speaking to you when I say that it’s okay to be in an uncomfortable season of learning. In each season, we need to adapt and be intentional about being aware of God’s presence.
Yes, we all have our ideal ways of experiencing God, but if we keep too tight of a hold on only experiencing God in our ideal ways, we will miss the beautiful new ways God is revealing himself to us in each season.
These days, in my learning process, I look at my son sleeping in my arms and I’m in awe of God. I experience the purest joy that only comes from our creator when my son belly laughs with all of his might when his papa walks through the door. I’m slowly seeing God in every little detail of each day.
If you don’t really feel God’s presence in this season of your life, just remember that you’re not alone. I pray that you would give yourself grace and that you too would slowly experience God in new and beautiful ways.
Many thanks to Moriah Lemoine for sharing her heart on experiencing God today. As always, I’m grateful for your presence here, with us today.
Substack always offers their writers the option to open up for paid subscriptions. I know many writers on this platform offer this to their subscribers, but for me, I hope to always keep what I offer here in this space free of charge. My husband and I serve in support-based missions work in diaspora ministry, specifically in immigrant and refugee care. If you want to support my writing—you could give a one-time or recurring donation to our ministry and that would be a huge blessing.
Beautiful reflection and a wonderful reminder of how God shows up even when our spiritual rhythms don't feel ideal. Grace to you indeed and may you continue to find rest in God's presence even in the chaos.