Molded Through the Mundane
While waiting for my acceptance letter to a graduate program, I worked in a childcare for about two years to enhance my experiences with managing and nurturing school-aged children. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time around the kids I was taking care of, all the while, some tasks and routines I was given felt very monotonous. Every day I was instructed to chop fruits and vegetables, distribute snacks to the kids, and then clean up the dishes or their mess once they were done eating their snacks.
One day, an intrusive thought came to my mind, “You’ve spent four years studying child development and education, but this is what you’re doing? Mopping the floor?” In that moment, I had to flip my thoughts to praises. I whispered to my soul, “Be faithful in the little, faithful in the big.”
Then I began to thank God for the job He provided me with, the skillsets that He was equipping me with, and the time He has given me to prepare for what is to come. I knew God’s timing is always perfect, so I was right where I needed to be. I learned that even when it feels mundane, God is still at work in our lives where He molds our characters to be like His and uses our story for His glory.
In John 4:1-42, it is noted that Jesus went to a town called Sychar and met a woman from Samaria who came to draw water from the well. Based on their dialogue, it is implying that this Samaritan woman is culturally inferior, she is a social outcast due to her gender as well as her lifestyle choices (having five husbands). Despite the social barriers, Jesus is concerned about her soul. He approaches this woman right where she is, in her brokenness, in the mundane task of drawing water from the well.
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Let’s look at John 7:37-39 to gain the full scope of the meaning behind living water, where Jesus said,
“37 let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
This context of living water is also paralleled with Psalms 36:9-10, where it is written,
“9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 10 Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.”
From those two passages, we know that the living water is the Spirit of God. The world may offer us satisfaction that is momentary and trivial; however, Jesus offers us peace, joy, love, and a relationship that is fulfilling. He has promised us a love that never disappoints and is everlasting.
That’s why I believe that when we have an encounter with our saviour every day, then our life wouldn’t feel so dull. Our waking moment becomes an opportunity to know Him and making Him known by others through our lives’ examples. We would have an inner passion for knowing His truth and learning to walk in His righteousness. Coming to church then shouldn’t feel like it’s a routine, but comes out of a place of reverence to our creator and perfector of faith.
Our ministry would also not be a burden, instead it’s an overflow of our personal relationship with Christ. Rather, our ministry should feel like it’s a privilege. Jesus emphasizes this in verses 23-24
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
As we have been discussing the topic of teachable spirit this month, I believe that someone with a teachable spirit is a person who exemplifies meekness. A person who is humbled by God’s redeeming grace would come to His presence with a broken and contrite spirit. Someone who comes with an attitude of surrender the way that this woman at the well has shown in verse 15,
“The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
To me, her statement illustrates her curiosity and passion for the presence of God. When we have a teachable spirit, we would take an active role in learning, reflecting, memorizing, and practicing the Scriptures. As we follow the story, we could see that it was because of her attitude and posture of worship, many Samaritans came to know Jesus as their Savior.
This woman at the well may appear ordinary at a glance or does a task that seems mundane; however, we have seen that it is important for us to be receptive to God’s guidance. Maybe there are areas in your life where He wants you to grow? Could it be that He wants you to let go of bitterness in your hearts and forgive others? Or maybe learning to be patient and showing love to others intentionally?
Whichever that may look like, I hope this message encourages you to allow Christ to work in you and through you. I pray you will continue to have an opened perspective, humbled heart, and renewed excitement in your personal relationship with Christ.
Love and prayer,
Jennifer Wijaya
Global Women Coordinator
