The Daily Grind

Tom Moore

Once in a while a big event introduces significant, and obvious, change into our lives. If the change is for the better, we go to bed and give thanks for the growth we've experienced. Yet all of us know that life is not made up of many days like this. On most days, nothing unusual happens - we simply move through the ordinary routine of our all-too-familiar schedule. And after weeks or months of nothing but the daily grind, we tend to grow impatient, feeling that nothing is "happening" in our lives. What should be our attitude toward the ordinary? Do we simply have to endure the commonplace, hoping that sooner or later another "big" day will come along?

Here's the answer: we shouldn't despise the daily grind. That is where the real growth takes place. Our progress on average days may not be as obvious as the progress we make on extraordinary, significant occasions - but the growth is real, and perhaps, over the long haul, is more important. Healthy spiritual growth doesn't come in spurts - it comes through "patience in well-doing" (Romans 2:7).

When we read the account of the early days of the church in Jerusalem, we're intrigued by the stories of martyrdom and the proclamation of the gospel before kings and other great audiences. But although these brethren did accomplish thrilling things on certain days, no finer thing is said about them in the Book of Acts than this simple statement: "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). They continued steadfastly in the daily grind!