November 21, 2014

Running to the Refuge {Day 21}: Refuge in the Mundane

You're on day 21 of a month-long series.  Catch up on previous posts here.

Today's topic is near and dear to me, because I live most of my life in the mundane.  Laundry, dishes, baths, shopping, educating, reading, playing, picking up, and answering most questions with, I don't know, we'll have to look it up or ask Dad, pretty much sum up my life.  What I do on a day to day basis is of no grand importance to peoples or nations, but make a profound difference in the lives of the humans who live with me under this roof.  Nevertheless, the mundane can get me down.

Does the routine hum-drum of life ever leave you looking for a refuge?



If you've caught on to the idea of this series, then you know the next thing I'm going to say is that God is our refuge in the mundane routines of life that could suck the life out of us if not for His grace and mercy.  There is hope in our Refuge, even in the mundane.  That is good news, because I know for many of us most of life is lived there.

What makes us want a refuge from the mundane?  Hm.  Good question.  I'm going to try to answer it right now off the top of my head!  One thing I alluded to above is that the mundane does not appear to "make a difference in the world."  And all through high school and college we're fed the lie that our lives only matter if we go out and change the world.

News flash: The only One who can change the world did, by sending His Son to save His people from their sins.  And that world-changer is our refuge when we start to wonder if what we're doing is of any significance.  So, run to the refuge!  Belonging to the Lord is what gives us significance.  Living for Him is what gives your life meaning.  If you are loving Him and loving your neighbor, you are right in the center of His will.  He will guide you in the details and is molding you in the mundane!

Another thing about the mundane is its relentlessness.  It never ends!  The weeks cycle by with work, activities, and conversations, people, places, and things.  We are fed the lie that we deserve a break as commercials for cruises flit across our TV screens and AAA mailings arrive in our mailboxes.  We quickly settle into discontent.

News flash: Vacations are amazing, but the mundane always eagerly awaits us when we get home.*   The only One who can give us true rest is the Lord, our refuge.  We need rest not necessarily a vacation, and the Lord provides a refuge of rest.  So, run to the refuge!  Turning to God when our hearts get unsettled and bitter about our mundane circumstances changes our perspective.  We can ask the Lord to give us new eyes to see how and where we can love Him and others more right in our mundane little lives!


My dear little boy needs my attention now; I have been putting him off to get this done before diving into today's mundane. <wink>  So it is time to summarize.  These are the verses that come to mind as I think about these things, Philippians 4:12-13:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The secret to contentment in the mundane?  Running to the refuge!  The Psalmist speak over and over about the strength of the Refuge.  The Good Lord places us where we are in life and calls us to love and live for Him right there.  When our hearts get restless, we need to run to our Rest, our Refuge.  He strengthens us, fills us with hope, and changes our perspective so we can keep on keeping on, with joy!

God bless you in your mundane today.



*I am not anti-vacation or suggesting you should never take a physical break!  I have dreams of seeing amazing places with our family that I one day want to realize.  I also love a good getaway and take time each day to "just sit."  I want to point out that those things alone cannot provide the deep feeling of refuge and rest our hearts really need and were created for.

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