What if God is showing up in your everyday life, but you’re missing Him?
It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life—calls, emails, texts, deadlines. We can become so focused on what’s next that we miss the moments happening right in front of us. Amid the busyness of life, we often miss the sacred moments unfolding in front of us.
This isn’t a new thing. The truth is, we’re not the only ones who miss these moments. In fact, Jesus’ own disciples did this too.
The Road to Emmaus
Let’s take a look at Luke 24:13-16. Here we see two disciples walking along a road, distracted by their own emotions and thoughts:
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
These disciples are going about their normal lives, consumed by their conversations about the recent events of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. They’re focused on reaching their destination, distracted by the exhaustion, confusion, and disappointment they feel—emotions that many of us can relate to. And yet, in the middle of their journey, Jesus comes alongside them—but they don’t recognize Him. This “kept from recognizing Him” suggests some sort of supernatural blindness, but it’s also a clear reminder for us: Do we recognize Jesus when He’s right beside us?
As the story continues, we see that their eyes are opened in a simple yet profound moment:
28 As they approached the village, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.
What opened their eyes? A simple ritual: breaking bread—something they had experienced with Jesus countless times. It wasn’t a grand gesture or a dramatic revelation. It was through a humble, everyday practice of eating together that they recognized Him.
Jesus in the Ordinary
Jesus still works the same way today. The ordinary moments we take for granted—whether it’s eating a meal, having a conversation, or folding laundry—can become opportunities to encounter Him, if we’re paying attention. We often think that God only speaks to us in church or through a pastor, but God is so much bigger than that. He is present in the everyday, waiting for us to recognize Him in the simplest of moments.
In John 15:5, Jesus reminds us of the importance of staying connected to Him in everything we do:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Remaining in Jesus doesn’t just happen in moments of prayer or worship, but in every part of our day. Whether it’s driving the kids to school, paying the bills, or attending meetings at work—if we stay mindful of His presence, we begin to see His work in the most ordinary of tasks. When we live with this awareness, even the smallest moments take on new meaning.
Encountering Jesus Through Communion
One of the ways we encounter Jesus is through communion. This practice is more than just a ritual—it’s a way to tune our hearts to His presence. I love this quote from Tish Harrison Warren in her book Liturgy of the Ordinary:
“Of all the things He could’ve chosen to be done in remembrance of Him, Jesus chose a meal. He could’ve asked His followers to do something impressive or mystical—climb a mountain, fast for forty days, or have a trippy sweat lodge ceremony—but instead, He picks the most ordinary of acts, eating, through which to be present to His people. He says that the bread is His body and the wine is His blood. He chooses the unremarkable and plain, average and abundant, bread and wine.”
Isn’t that just like God’s plan? To choose the ordinary and unremarkable to accomplish His purposes. Jesus doesn’t need the extraordinary to show up and walk beside us. He is the extraordinary. And if we could only recognize Him in these ordinary moments, how much more would we see His work in our lives and give Him glory?
Discussion Questions:
1. How can everyday acts like eating, working, or taking care of our families become opportunities to encounter Jesus? What are some examples from your own life where you’ve found God in the midst of the everyday?
- John 15:5 reminds us that staying connected to Jesus in everything we do is important. How can you remain connected to Him during your daily tasks, especially when you’re busy or distracted?
