Behold the Birth: Embracing God’s Presence in the Ordinary
God in the Ordinary
Advent is a season of anticipation—a time when we prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of Jesus. Yet so often, we look for God in the grand, the extraordinary, or the miraculous. What if, instead, we began to see God’s presence in our own ordinary and unexpected moments?
As we approach Christmas, let’s shift our focus to the beauty of God’s presence in the humble and mundane places of our lives.
The Humility of Christ’s Birth
In Luke 2:7 we read:
“She gave birth to her firstborn son and laid him in a manger because there was no guest room available.”
Pause for a moment and imagine this scene. The Savior of the world, the long-awaited Messiah, was born in a manger—an unassuming feeding trough for animals. There were no royal announcements, celebratory parades, no elaborate preparations. Jesus’ birth was simple, humble, and yet profoundly intentional.
This is the kind of God we worship—a God who meets us where we are. He doesn’t wait for the perfect moment or grand setting; He comes into the midst of our ordinary lives and makes His dwelling among us.
John 1:14 reminds us:
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”
The God of the universe became human, walking and living in the everyday messiness of life. He could have chosen wealth, power, or prestige—but instead, He chose humility. Christ’s birth reminds us that the ordinary is where God chooses to meet us.
Finding God in the Everyday Moments
What does it look like to find God in our own everyday moments?
It may not be in the places we expect. It might be in:
A quiet morning with a cup of coffee and a sense of peace.
The laughter of a child
A challenging day that unexpectedly draws us to lean on God for strength.
God reveals Himself to us in ways that are simple, quiet, and often overlooked. The question is: Are we paying attention?
When we pause to notice, we begin to see God’s presence everywhere. He is there in the ordinary moments of work, in our routines, in the beauty of nature, and even in our struggles. When we start asking, “Where have I seen God today?”we create space to experience His presence more deeply.
Practical Application: Dwelling in the Ordinary
How can we embrace God’s presence in the ordinary this Advent season?
Here are two simple ways:
Pause and Notice
Throughout your day, take intentional pauses to look around and ask yourself: “Where is God in this moment?” It could be as small as the kindness of a stranger or the way the light filters through a window.Reflect and Journal
At the end of the day, spend five minutes reflecting and journaling:When did I sense God’s presence today?
Were there moments I missed Him?
Where did I wish I had noticed Him more?
This simple practice of reflection can shift our focus and allow us to see God in the small, sacred moments we often take for granted.
Reflection Questions
Take time to reflect on these questions as you draw closer to God in this season:
Where have you missed God’s presence in your everyday life?
How can you slow down and notice God more clearly in the ordinary?
What does it mean to you that Jesus came into the world in such a humble way?
Seeing God in the Unexpected
The story of Christ’s birth shows us that God is present even in the most unexpected places. He is with us in every moment—no matter how small, quiet, or ordinary it may seem.
This Advent season, may we celebrate the beauty of His presence. May we pause, notice, and embrace the sacredness of the ordinary moments in our lives. For it is there, in the quiet and humble places, that we truly behold the birth of our Savior.
As we carry this truth with us, let us look for God’s presence not just in the extraordinary, but in the everyday moments that reflect His love, peace, and grace.
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” —John 1:14
God is here. Right now. In the ordinary. Will you pause and behold Him?