Devotional: Ordinary People. Extraordinary Faithfulness.
A companion resource for “Ordinary People. Extraordinary God. Pt. 1”
Reflection
It’s the start of a new year, and if you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking about how things went last year and what you want to do differently this year. Maybe you’ve already assessed your habits—exercise, eating, spiritual disciplines—but have you taken time to assess your faithfulness to God? What would your life look like if it was just a little more faithful to Him this year?
Here’s the thing about faithfulness: it’s not about being perfect or doing grand, flashy things for God. Faithfulness is often quiet, steady, and unnoticed by others. It happens on the ordinary days in the middle of your ordinary life. The story of Shiphrah and Puah in Exodus 1 is a powerful example of this. These midwives didn’t have power or influence. They weren’t queens or warriors. They were enslaved women doing their jobs. Yet, when Pharaoh gave them an order to kill Hebrew baby boys, they chose to obey God instead, risking their own lives.
Why did they do it? Because they feared God more than Pharaoh. They trusted that God was the one who truly had the final say over their lives. Their courage and obedience allowed God to continue His plan of growing His people, ultimately leading to the arrival of the Messiah.
Faithfulness to God requires courage. It’s not always easy, and it’s rarely convenient. Sometimes it means standing up for what’s right, even if it costs you. Sometimes it means showing up and serving in ways that feel small or insignificant. But here’s the good news: God sees it. He takes our small, ordinary acts of obedience and does extraordinary things with them—things we may never even see in our lifetime.
So as you think about your faithfulness to God this year, ask yourself: What small steps can I take to trust Him more? What ordinary, everyday decisions can I make that will honor Him? Don’t underestimate what God can do through your life, even if it feels insignificant. He has a way of using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.
Key Scripture
"The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live." – Exodus 1:17
"Well done, good and faithful servant!" – Matthew 25:21
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." – Galatians 6:9
Questions for Reflection
Where in your life might God be calling you to step out in courageous faithfulness this year?
Are there small, everyday ways you can honor God that you’ve been overlooking?
How can trusting God in the ordinary moments impact those around you and future generations?
What’s one thing you can start this week to grow in your faithfulness to God?
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for reminding me that You can use ordinary people like me to do extraordinary things. Help me to trust You and follow where You lead, even when it feels risky or small. Give me the courage to obey You, to honor You in the little things, and to be faithful in my everyday life. I trust that You are working through me in ways I may never see. Thank You for Your faithfulness, and may my life reflect Your glory. Amen.
For Further Study
Read Exodus 1:8-22 and think about how Shiphrah and Puah’s courage shaped the future.
Dive into Matthew 25:14-30 to see how faithfulness in small things matters to God.
Reflect on Hebrews 11, the stories of people who trusted God in big and small ways.
Consider reading The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller to deepen your understanding of God’s grace and how He calls us to faithfulness.
