The Sacred Ordinary: Finding God in the Midst of the Mess

The paint water on my desk is a murky shade of grey, somewhere between a rainy Tuesday and a bruised plum. There are crumbs from a half-eaten granola bar wedged in the keyboard, and my phone just buzzed with a notification that reminds me I’m behind on three different projects. If you looked at my workspace right now, you wouldn't see a "sanctuary." You’d see a mess.

We often think that to find God, we have to clear the schedule, light a candle, and find a perfectly silent corner of the world. We wait for the "big" moments, the mountaintop retreats, the booming voices, or the miraculous interventions. But what if God is actually more interested in the messy middle? What if the creative process of our lives isn't about escaping the ordinary, but learning to see the divine fingerprints all over it?

As your Pastor here at Boundless Online Church, I want to invite you to stop waiting for "perfect" and start looking for "Present." God isn't waiting for you at the finish line of your to-do list; He’s walking with you through the clutter.

The Beauty of the Unfinished

There’s a specific kind of anxiety that comes with being a creative soul. Whether you’re painting a canvas, writing a business plan, raising a toddler, or leading a team, there is always a "gap" between what you see in your head and what is actually happening in front of you.

We tend to call this gap "the mess." We want to rush through it. We want to get to the polished version, the "after" photo, the final product. But in the Kingdom of God, the process is just as sacred as the product. Think about the way God created the world. He didn't just snap His fingers and have a finished universe. He took six days. He spoke, He shaped, He breathed. He moved through the void and the darkness.

In your own life, the "void and darkness", those moments where things feel unfinished or chaotic, are not signs of God’s absence. They are the exact places where His Spirit is hovering, ready to bring light.

Finding the Divine in the Details

I was recently thinking about the work of Leigh McLeroy, who wrote beautifully about "The Sacred Ordinary." She pointed out that God can be found in a kitchen junk drawer or an old box of crayons. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see a Savior who spent thirty years doing "ordinary" things before His three years of public ministry. He worked with wood. He felt the sawdust under His fingernails. He ate meals with friends. He walked on dusty roads.

Jesus didn't just come to save us from the world; He came to show us how to live in it.

When we embrace the ordinary in our creative process, we begin to realize that every small act can be a form of worship. Typing an email with kindness is an act of creativity. Preparing a healthy meal for your family is an act of creativity. Navigating a difficult conversation with a co-worker is an act of creativity.

If you’ve been feeling burnt out or disconnected, it might be because you’re looking too far ahead. You're looking for the burning bush when God is speaking through the gentle rustle of the leaves in your own backyard.

The Breath Section: A Sacred Pause

Before we go any further, I want you to stop. Don't look at the next paragraph. Don't check your watch.

Take a deep breath in through your nose. Hold it for three seconds.

Now, let it out slowly through your mouth.

As you breathe, acknowledge the mess around you. Acknowledge the laundry that needs folding, the bills that need paying, or the project that feels stuck. Now, say this out loud or in your heart:

"God, You are here in this room. You are in this mess. You are in this moment."

Rest in the truth that you don't have to be "put together" for Him to be proud of you. You are His child, and He loves the process of watching you grow.

Why We Run from the Ordinary

We live in a culture that worships the "extraordinary." We are bombarded with highlight reels on social media that make us feel like our regular lives are failing. If we aren't "crushing it," "leveling up," or "living our best life," we feel like we’re missing out.

This pressure can stifle our creativity and our spiritual health. We start to believe that God only cares about our "big" wins. But I’ve learned through years of coaching and pastoring that the most significant growth usually happens in the quiet, boring, repetitive moments.

It’s the daily habit of prayer. It’s the consistent choice to be honest. It’s the discipline of showing up to do the work even when the "muse" hasn't shown up yet. If you’re struggling with your mental health in this fast-paced world, I encourage you to check out our guide on staying informed without losing your peace. It’s about setting boundaries so you can hear the "still, small voice" over the digital roar.

Leading Through the Mess

For those of you in leadership, whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company or a small church plant, the "mess" can feel like a failure. You might think, If I were a better leader, my team wouldn't have these conflicts. Or, If I were more organized, we’d be further along.

But leadership is actually the art of navigating the ordinary mess with extraordinary grace. If you feel like your team isn't working quite right, you aren't alone. You might find some clarity in this post about why church leadership teams struggle and how to fix them.

Remember, even the disciples were a "mess." They argued about who was the greatest, they fell asleep when Jesus asked them to pray, and they frequently misunderstood His parables. Yet, Jesus called them "friends." He worked through their ordinary flaws to change the world. He can do the same with you.

A Reflection Question for Your Soul

Take a moment to look at your current "mess." It might be a physical mess, a relational mess, or a creative block.

Question:If I knew for a fact that God was smiling at me right in the middle of this unfinished situation, how would that change my attitude toward the work I have to do today?

Often, we wait for the resolution to feel Joy. But Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, which means it grows during the season of cultivation, not just at the harvest.

Your One Actionable Step

This week, I want you to practice "The Sanctified Minute."

Pick one ordinary, mundane task that you usually rush through or dread (like washing dishes, commuting, or checking emails). Before you start, say, "Lord, I offer this ordinary moment to You. Open my eyes to Your presence here."

Perform that task slowly and with intention. Notice the temperature of the water, the sound of the keys, or the light coming through the window. Transform that chore into a conversation with your Creator.

Walking Together

Life is messy, but you don't have to navigate it alone. Whether you are looking for professional coaching to take your leadership to the next level, or you just need a spiritual home where you can be yourself, we are here for you.

At laynemcdonald.com, you’ll find resources for your growth: from books and music to deep-dive blog posts on digital habits and spiritual health. And here’s something I love: every time you visit our site or use our resources, you’re helping us raise funds via Google AdSense for families who have lost children. It’s a way for us to turn our collective "ordinary" clicks into extraordinary support for those in need.

If you’re looking for a community that values truth and grace, come join us at Boundless Online Church. It’s our spiritual home where we watch teachings, join family groups, and stay grounded in what matters most. You can join in with or without a formal signup: we just want you to feel at home.

Keep creating. Keep messy. Keep looking for the Sacred in the middle of it all.

Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341.

Blessings,

Dr. Layne McDonald Pastor, Boundless Online Church Founder, Layne McDonald Ministries