The Sacred Strength of Ordinary Faithfulness
Night Is Normal Part 8: What Does Trusting God Actually Look Like Every Day?
Most of us love the dramatic stories of Scripture.
David defeating Goliath.
Moses parting the Red Sea.
Joseph was standing before Pharaoh.
But what about all the ordinary days in between?
The days when nothing seems to be changing...
When prayers remain unanswered...
When life feels routine...
And faith simply looks like showing up one more day.
In this encouraging episode of Heartfelt Conversations with Diana, we discover that God often does His deepest work during life's most ordinary seasons.
If you've been wondering whether your everyday faithfulness matters, this conversation will remind you that God sees every prayer, every act of obedience, and every step taken toward Him.
Because sometimes the greatest testimony isn't found in a single miracle...
It's found in a lifetime of faithfully walking with Jesus.
Diana’s Notes
Heartfelt Conversations with Diana - The Night is Normal Study
What Does Trusting God Actually Look Like Every Day?
Hello everybody!!!
And welcome back to Heartfelt Conversations with Diana.
I'm so thankful you've joined me today as we continue our journey through The Night Is Normal by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole.
Over the past few weeks, we've been laying one brick at a time, building a foundation that can hold us steady when life doesn't.
We've learned that nothing is wrong with us simply because we're walking through a night season.
We've reminded ourselves that God has not changed, even when everything around us has.
We've uncovered the illusions that pain can create and learned that God's truth is greater than our feelings.
Last week, we stood beside a willow tree and discovered that what appeared dead was actually full of new shoots waiting to emerge.
And maybe, just maybe, some of you began looking at your own lives a little differently.
Maybe you began wondering...
Could God be growing something in me that I simply can't see yet?
I pray you did because He is always working.
Even when His work is hidden beneath the surface.
But today, I'd like to ask a different question.
What do we do while we're waiting?
What does trusting God actually look like on an ordinary Tuesday morning?
Not when the breakthrough comes. Not when the miracle happens.
Not when the prayers are finally answered. But today.
When the dishes still need washing. The bills still need paying.
The doctor's report hasn't changed. The prodigal hasn't come home.
The grief still hurts. The loneliness still lingers.
The questions remain. What does faith look like then?
Because if we're honest...Most of us love the dramatic stories in Scripture.
We love reading about David defeating Goliath. Moses parting the Red Sea.
Daniel walking out of the lion's den. Joseph was standing before Pharaoh.
We celebrate the mountaintop moments.
But we often skip over the ordinary days in between.
The days when nothing seemed to be happening.
The days when faith looked less like a miracle...
...and more like simply getting up one more morning and choosing to trust God again.
I think sometimes we've unintentionally believed that faithfulness always looks exciting.
That if we're really walking with God, every day should feel full of victory, purpose, and visible progress.
But what if that's not how God usually works?
What if the deepest work He does isn't during the extraordinary moments… ...but during the ordinary ones?
What if the greatest acts of faith are often the ones no one else ever sees?
The mother who keeps praying for her children.
The husband who humbly seeks God’s wisdom.
The widow who keeps opening her Bible every morning.
The caregiver who lovingly serves another exhausting day.
The believer who whispers,
"Lord... I don't understand... but I'm still here."
I think heaven celebrates those moments far more than we realize.
(THE MYTH OF EXTRAORDINARY FAITH)
Can I confess something? I think we've unintentionally created a picture of faith that God never intended.
We celebrate testimonies. And we should. We celebrate miracles. And we should. We celebrate breakthrough stories. And we absolutely should. But sometimes those stories make us believe that faithfulness is measured by extraordinary moments.
When in reality...
Extraordinary moments are usually built upon thousands of ordinary ones.
Everybody wants a testimony.
Very few people want the years it takes to have one.
We admire Joseph standing beside Pharaoh.
But very few of us would volunteer for thirteen years of betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and prison.
We celebrate David wearing a crown.
But we don't often think about the lonely years spent hiding in caves.
We celebrate the resurrection.
But none of us would have chosen the cross.
The greatest testimonies in Scripture were not built in a single moment.
They were built through ordinary faithfulness.
One day. One decision. One prayer. One act of obedience at a time.
And I believe that's where many of us are today.
Not standing beside the Red Sea. Not standing in front of a giant.
Not standing before Pharaoh. We're simply standing in our own ordinary Tuesday.
Wondering if today's faithfulness matters. It matters more than you know.
This leads us to our first building block for today’s episode, The Sacred Strength of Ordinary Faithfulness - What Does Trusting God Actually Look Like Every Day?
BUILDING BLOCK #1
Faithfulness Is Built One Ordinary Day At A Time
Colossians 3:23–24: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." (Ordinary tasks become acts of worship.)
I'd like us to go back to Joseph one more time.
Not because I want to revisit the prison.
But because I want us to notice something we often overlook.
Scripture tells us Joseph served faithfully wherever he was.
He served faithfully in Potiphar's house. He served faithfully in prison.
He interpreted dreams. He managed responsibilities. He cared for others.
He didn't know when—or even if—his circumstances would change.
Think about that for a moment. Joseph didn't wake up every morning knowing, "Only 427 more days until Pharaoh calls for me."
He didn't have a countdown. He didn't know the ending.
All he had was today. And what did he do today?
He was faithful. Not flashy. Not famous. Faithful. Day after day. Month after month. Year after year. That kind of faithfulness doesn't usually make headlines.
But I wonder if it fills the halls of heaven with quiet applause.
Because every ordinary act of obedience says something profound:
"God, I still believe You are who You say You are—even if nothing changes today."
God is not expecting you to "try harder." It isn’t your faithfulness in yourself that will give you strength to keep going. It will be your faith in His faithfulness, knowing every day His grace is enough, His mercies are brand new - today! You are alive. He gave this day as a gift to you. He has actually given you the gift of life, and every day you wake up is a new day.
Joseph probably did not spend most of his days wallowing in self-pity, guilt, or regret. Sure. We are human; we are all subject to a bad day here and there. But our lives should honor the sacredness of God’s goodness and faithfulness to us. Trust Him! Trust Him with today and see if it isn’t a little lighter of a day!
Simply choose to continue walking with Jesus when nobody else notices you.
BUILDING BLOCK #2
Keep Moving Toward Jesus
John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
An interesting word Dr. Alicia uses in this section of the book is a word we don't hear very often. Plodding.
Now, let's be honest.
It isn't exactly an exciting word. No one wakes up in the morning and says, "I can't wait to plod today!" LOL
Shoot. Some of you may not even know what it means to plod.
Here is the definition according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Plodding means walking slowly and heavily, or working at a slow, steady, and dull pace.
In the example of Walking: Moving with heavy, slow steps, like walking through deep mud.
In the example of Working: Doing hard, boring work without much surprise or speed
When we think about following Jesus, we usually picture mountain-top moments. Not plodding moments!
Big victories. Powerful testimonies. Life-changing breakthroughs.
But Alicia reminds us that most of our spiritual growth doesn't happen in dramatic moments.
It happens while we're faithfully plodding.
Steadily. Patiently. Quietly. Continuing to walk with God one step at a time.
As I sat with that thought this week, I found myself rewriting the definition in my own words.
“Plodding isn't moving slowly. Plodding is refusing to stop moving toward Jesus.”
I love that.
Because there are seasons when our steps are strong.
There are seasons when we feel like we're running with purpose.
And then there are seasons… When every step feels heavy. When grief slows us down. When disappointment steals our energy.
Unanswered prayers leave us wondering if our next step even matters.
It does because God has never asked us to sprint through every season.
He has simply invited us to keep walking with Him.
(THE GIFT OF AN ORDINARY TUESDAY)
Most of life isn't lived in the extraordinary. It's lived in the ordinary.
Most of us aren't making life-changing decisions every single day. We're making lunches. Driving to work. Folding laundry. Taking care of aging parents. Helping our children or maybe grandchildren with their homework.
Paying bills. Walking the dog. Cleaning the kitchen. Showing up for work. Call a friend who needs encouragement.
Praying while we wash dishes. Reading a few verses before bed.
Those moments can feel so... ordinary.
Almost invisible.
Yet I wonder if those ordinary moments are exactly where discipleship is formed.
Because following Jesus isn't something we do only on Sundays.
It's something we do while standing in line at the grocery store.
While sitting in traffic. At the same time, choose patience instead of irritation. In comparison, extending forgiveness one more time.
While speaking kindly when we're tired, at the same time, we trust God even though nothing around us has changed.
Maybe holiness looks a lot more ordinary than we imagined.
Maybe the sacred is found in the simple act of saying,
"Jesus… I'm still walking with You today."
(DON'T DESPISE SMALL STEPS)
The Apostle Paul wrote these words in Galatians 6:9:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Notice Paul doesn't say,
"If you perform spectacular miracles..."
He says,
Don't grow weary. Keep going. Keep sowing. Keep trusting. Keep loving. Keep serving. Keep believing.
Sometimes faithfulness is simply refusing to quit.
And perhaps that's where some of you find yourselves today.
You're tired. You've prayed. You've waited. You've trusted. And if you're honest...
You're wondering if any of it matters.
Can I encourage you? Because I have recently been here myself -
Every act of obedience matters. Every quiet prayer matters.
Every tear God catches matters. Every choice to forgive matters.
Every decision to keep showing up matters. He sees what no one else sees. And nothing offered to Him in love is ever wasted.
(A SOLDIER WHO STANDS)
Paul says something else that I think fits beautifully here.
In Ephesians 6, after describing the armor of God, he doesn't finish by saying,
"Charge!" He says, Stand. Stand firm.
Sometimes the most courageous thing a believer can do...
...is simply to remain standing.
Not because we're strong in ourselves. But because we're standing “in Christ.”
Some days victory looks like taking giant leaps.
Other days… Victory looks like not walking away.
Victory looks like opening your Bible one more time.
Whispering one more prayer. Choosing hope one more day.
Standing.
This transformation in understanding what we have “in Christ” takes the pressure off.
The Christian life isn't a performance. It's a relationship.
And relationships aren't built through occasional grand gestures.
They're built through daily faithfulness.
Just as a marriage grows one ordinary conversation at a time...
Our walk with Jesus grows one ordinary day at a time.
"... don't underestimate what God can do with one faithful day."
Because one faithful day becomes another. And another.
Years later, you look back and realize...
God was building a life of steadfast faithfulness while you were simply trying to be faithful today.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT): Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
"Walk with Me." Not "perform for Me." Not "impress Me."
Just… Walk with Me. Follow Me. And I will give you rest for your souls…
There was a time when I read that verse, and I said okay, Jesus, I am ready to exchange all my worries and guilt and shame and frustrations and disappointment for your rest. You say Your yoke is easy, so I give you my burdens, and You give me some rest for my soul.
And He has been gently guiding me - every day since.
BUILDING BLOCK #3
The Direction Of Your Life Matters More Than The Speed Of Your Progress
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Can I leave you with one final thought?
Sometimes we become discouraged because we compare our journey to someone else's.
We look around, and it seems like everyone else is moving ahead.
Everyone else is growing faster. Everyone else is receiving breakthroughs.
Everyone else has their life together. Meanwhile...
We're just trying to make it through another Tuesday. Friend...
Please don't confuse slow growth with no growth. The strongest oak trees don't grow overnight. The deepest roots are formed where no one can see them.
The same is true spiritually.
God is far more interested in forming your character than impressing the crowd.
He's shaping your heart. Teaching you to trust. Teaching you to forgive.
Teaching you to love. Teaching you to depend upon Him. Those things cannot be rushed.
Remember Joseph. The years in prison were not wasted years.
They were preparation years. God wasn't delaying His plan.
He was developing His servant.
And maybe… Just maybe...
What feels like a delay in your life is actually God doing His deepest work.
So don't measure your spiritual growth by how quickly your circumstances change.
Measure it by one simple question:
Am I still moving toward Jesus?
Because if the answer is yes… You're growing. Maybe slowly. Maybe quietly. Maybe in ways no one else can see.
But you're growing. And that is beautiful.
CLOSING ENCOURAGEMENT
Friend...
As we close today, I want you to picture yourself walking a long country road.
Some days the sun is shining.
On other days, clouds fill the sky.
Some days your steps are light.
Other days, your feet feel heavy.
There will be seasons when you'll want to run.
There will be seasons when all you can do is shuffle forward one step at a time.
But hear me...
Your Heavenly Father is not standing at the finish line tapping His foot in disappointment.
He's walking the road with you.
He's celebrating every step of obedience.
Every quiet prayer.
Every act of forgiveness.
Every moment you choose hope over despair.
Every time you open His Word, instead of giving up.
Every time you whisper, "Lord...help me."
He is delighted by your faithfulness.
Because ordinary faithfulness has always been sacred to God.
So if all you can do today… It takes one more step toward Jesus...
Take it. If all you can do today...
Is prayer one simple prayer… Pray it.
If all you can do today… I believe that God is still good...
Believe it.
Because faithfulness isn't measured by how fast you run.
It's measured by the direction you're headed.
Keep moving toward Jesus. One ordinary day at a time.
Father,
Thank You for reminding us that You are not looking for perfection.
You are inviting us into a faithful relationship with You.
Forgive us for the times we've measured our lives by comparison rather than by faithfulness.
Help us to trust that You are working, even when we cannot see immediate results.
When we become weary, strengthen us.
When we become discouraged, remind us that You are walking beside us.
When we wonder if our ordinary days matter, help us remember that every act of obedience is precious in Your sight.
Teach us to keep our eyes on Jesus.
Not because every day feels exciting.
But because You are worthy of our trust.
Help us become people who quietly and faithfully follow You, one ordinary day at a time.
And when we're tempted to give up...
Remind us that You have never stopped being faithful to us.
We love You. We trust You.
And we thank You that even our ordinary lives can bring You extraordinary glory.
In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Next week
As we continue our journey through The Night Is Normal, next week we're going to step into one of the most personal conversations we've had yet.
We've talked about disappointment with circumstances.
We've talked about trusting God.
We've talked about learning to faithfully walk through the night.
But what happens when the greatest disappointment...
...isn't with life?
What happens when it's with ourselves?
Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought,
"I thought I'd be farther along by now."
"Why do I keep struggling with the same things?"
"Why can't I seem to get this right?"
If you've ever wrestled with feelings of failure, inadequacy, regret, or simply not measuring up...
You're not alone.
Next week, we're going to discover that God's love for us has never been based on our performance.
We'll explore the difference between conviction and condemnation, the freedom that comes from seeing ourselves through the eyes of grace, and why God's invitation has never been, "Try harder."
His invitation has always been, "Come closer."
I hope you'll join me.
Until next time...
Remember this:
Faithfulness isn't measured by how fast you run.
It's measured by the direction you're headed.
So keep moving toward Jesus.
One ordinary step… One ordinary day… At a time.Until then-
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You can join us online for the Sunday service at Valley Family Church! If you are nearby, please join us for the 9 AM or the 11:15 services.
You can find the link for Valley’s Sunday service, the notes from today’s podcast, and a must-listen-to teaching by our Worship Pastor, Amiq Gill, on “How To Hear From God! “
You can find all of it on our website -heartfeltconversations.com
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 (NLT)
God bless & I’ll see ya next time on Heartfelt Conversations with Diana!
Pastor Amiq’s message:
How to Hear from God | Pastor Amiq Gill
Valley Family Church YouTube Channel for Sunday Service:
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Thirst Quenchers
Songs to Inspire You
Casting Crowns - God of All My Days (Official Lyric Video)
CeCe Winans - That's My King (Official Video)
We The Kingdom - Jesus Does (Official Music Video)
Foundational Encouraging Verses:
Isaiah 42:16: God’s Word Translation
I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads. I will lead them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light in front of them. I will make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do for them, and I will never abandon them.
Isaiah 54:10: Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Psalm 119:105: Your word is a light unto our path and a light unto our feet.
Isaiah 54:17: But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!
Isaiah 52:12: (EASY) But you will not have to hurry and run away. No, the Lord, Israel's God, will keep you safe. He will lead you at the front, and He will be your guard at the back.
Isaiah 46:10: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”
Matthew 7:11: So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
1 Peter 2:23 tells us - When He was insulted, He did not answer back with an insult; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but placed His hopes in God, the righteous Judge.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
1 Peter 2:12 says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that… they may see your good deeds and glorify God.”
The New Living Translation reads it this way: Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Now choose life."
Luke 6:37“Forgive, and you will be forgiven”.
Matthew 6:14: If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
Romans 8:31 in the AMP Bible tells us: What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?
Psalm 65:11: You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
Psalm 32:8: The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
Proverbs 15:3: The Lord sees everything, whether good or bad.
1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
Additional Resources:
Steven Furtick: Triggered Taking Back Your Mind in the Age of Anxiety
Beth Jones: Getting a Grip on the Basics is a great resource to help you get the basics of how vital you are to God and how good He desires to be to you
https://www.thebasicsuniversity.com
Joyce Meyer: The Mind is a Battlefield - https://joycemeyer.org
Prayer of Salvation
Jesus has given salvation, healing, and countless benefits to all who call upon His name. These benefits can be yours if you receive Him into your heart by saying this prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come to You admitting that I am a sinner. Right now, I choose to turn away from sin, and I ask You to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I believe that Jesus rose again from the dead so that I may be justified and made righteous through faith in Him. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ to be the Savior and Lord of my life. Jesus, I choose to follow You, and I ask that You fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit. I declare right now that I am a born-again child of God. I am free from sin and full of the righteousness of God. I am saved in Jesus’ name. Amen.
This prayer and the comment above were taken out of the book:
Secrets to Powerful Prayer - Discovering the Languages of the Heart
By Lynne Hammond and Patsy Cameneti
If you have just received Jesus as your Savior, please write Lynne Hammond Ministries at:
PO Box 29469
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55429-2946
Or, email one of the ministries listed on the Additional Resources Tab and let them know that you are a brand-new Christian and need some direction on the next steps for your new life in Christ.
Or email us here at Heartfelt Conversations with Diana, and we will forward your information to you.
Congratulations if you are a brand new Christian or if you have Returned Home! Welcome!!! Get in God’s Word and get it into you.