GOD IN THE ORDINARY
Greetings church family!
Jacob was a fugitive - not from the law, but from his brother, Esau. After lying to his father Isaac, and stealing Esau’s firstborn blessing, Jacob fled toward Haran. Soon night fell, and Jacob stopped in a desolate place to rest, having to use a stone for his headrest. Jacob wasn't in a forest or on a mountaintop. He was in an ordinary patch of wilderness, battling discomfort and loneliness. And yet, in that very place, Jacob experienced one of the most profound encounters with God recorded in Scripture.
As he slept, Jacob dreamed of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending upon it. Above it stood the Lord, declaring promises of presence, protection, and blessing. When Jacob awoke, he exclaimed, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it!” (Genesis 28:16). What an incredible confession—God was there all along, and Jacob hadn’t realized it.
This story reminds us that God is not confined to mountaintop moments or rejuvenating retreats. He is present in the ordinary, the in-between, and even the uncomfortable spaces of life. We often expect to find Him in the “spiritual” settings, but He delights in meeting us in the mundane - during our morning commute, in the kitchen sink’s quiet rhythm, in a hospital waiting room, or at the end of a long workday.
Jacob’s rock pillow became an altar. What began as a place of exhaustion became Bethel—“the house of God.” That is the transforming power of God’s presence. When God reveals Himself, places perceived as ordinary become extraordinary!
Sometimes, like Jacob, we feel far from where we thought God would meet us. Maybe life hasn’t gone as planned; maybe we’re in a season of confusion or regret. Yet even there, God whispers, “I am with you.” His presence turns the barren into blessed, the simple into sacred, and the running heart into a resting one.
The key is awareness. Jacob said, “The Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” How many times do we miss God’s nearness because we’re distracted or discouraged? Practicing spiritual attentiveness—pausing, praying, noticing—helps us recognize God’s fingerprints in our daily life.
Centuries later, Jesus would tell Nathanael that he would “see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51), echoing Jacob’s vision. In other words, Jesus Himself is the ladder—the meeting point between heaven and earth. Through Christ, every believer can experience the presence of God, not just in sacred spaces, but in every moment of life.
So today, wherever you are—whether you’re standing in a church pew or sitting in traffic—remember that God is near. Take off your metaphorical shoes, for the ground beneath your feet may be holier than you think. In that place, God wants to remind you that He is for you, He is with you, and He loves you!
Blessings!
Pastor Chris
