God of the ordinary

God of the ordinary. God of the ordinary.

Key points

• A little bit petty, a whole lot creative: Inside Tupelo's Petty Betty's Art Studio.
• Supreme Court to rule on 2020 Census results that negatively impacted Mississippians.
• You and I are particularly ordinary-and we can easily believe that "ordinary" equates to "useless." Yet Ruth and Naomi's story reveals something different.
• Whether Elimelech's motive was one of desperation, discontent, or distrust, Scripture illustrates through his choice that our foolishness cannot set aside God's providence.
• Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975.

God of the ordinary. God of the ordinary. By: Alistair Begg – September 2, 2026.

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her. This person returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. – Ruth 1: 22.

On any given morning as you read, watch, or listen to the news, do you ever find yourself thinking you are particularly small? Do you ever wonder, "Does God really know who I am or where I am? What interest would He, the Creator of everything, have in me?"

You and I are particularly ordinary-and we can easily believe that "ordinary" equates to "useless." Yet Ruth and Naomi's story reveals something different. In it, we discover the sovereign, providential hand of God working in and through life's routines. He knows and He cares, He sustains and He provides.

In practice, the book of Ruth's account of God's provision and care begins with a mistake. Elimelech created the ill-fated decision to leave famished Bethlehem for prospering Moab with his wife Naomi and their two sons-but he and his sons died there.

Whether Elimelech's motive was one of desperation, discontent, or distrust, Scripture illustrates through his choice that our foolishness cannot set aside God's providence. Even when we respond to circumstances with the wrong spirit-when figuratively we take ourselves up and out of the land of God's promise-He can still accomplish His purposes. When we are tempted to fear that God has overlooked our lives since of our mistakes, we can rest in His providence. It is able to work through our biggest-or smallest-missteps.

Have you seen God move in life's ordinary moments? Have you seen Him at work through your mistakes? Or are you caught in the lie that God only operates in spectacular, extraordinary ways or through our moments of greatest obedience?

When we look only for the extraordinary, we miss God's glory in the ordinary-in a bowl of apples on the table, a well-prepared meal, a bird singing, a conversation with a friend, the moon shining through a cloudy night sky. When we assume God only works when we are good, we miss God's grace in working through sinners-through a conversation regarding Christ with a neighbor, a parent's repentance to a child after they have spoken impatiently to them, a prayer prayed for someone as anxiety has kept us from sleep. For Ruth and Naomi, the particularly sight of a barley field, ripe for the harvest, was in one sense a highly ordinary view-but in fact it declared God's provision to them. Mistakes had been created and griefs had been borne, but the barley harvest demonstrated that God knows, cares, sustains, and provides.

God has not changed. Although He has the whole universe to care for, He turns His gaze on you and me, and He notes, I know you. Your name is written on the palm of My hand. And as surely as I cared for Naomi and Ruth, I'm looking after you too (see Isaiah 49: 16). God is sustaining and guiding His children. Let that knowledge comfort your heart and bring you peace today-however ordinary the day may be. Regarding the Author(s).

Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. After graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written a number of books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. His Daily Devotionals are presented here via a syndication agreement. Faith Matt Friedeman August 30, 2026. Parents – time to start raising "different" children.

Children are a precious gift. Parenting in an era where the world wants their attention and is able to obtain it with relative ease is no straightforward task. More From This Author. Faith Alistair Begg August 28, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg August 27, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg August 26, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg September 1, 2026. The valley of decision. Faith Alistair Begg August 25, 2026. We all worship something.

You gotta serve somebody today. Be sure to create it the living, loving God. Faith Matt Friedeman August 24, 2026. God loves a good mechanic.

Work is good and godly, and a state and nation that honors honest labor and take sweat and dirty hands seriously will know God's prosperity. News Kevin Freking, Associated Press September 1, 2026.

U.S. House passes short-term funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election. News Aamer Madhani, Associated Press September 1, 2026.

Oil giant Chevron is projected to announce it will expand operations in Venezuela, U.S. Official states. News Clara Turnage September 1, 2026. Engineering team intends to produce carbon conversion simpler, more affordable. Business Frank Corder August 28, 2026. Ocean Aero creating 45 jobs with $4 million expansion in Gulfport. Business Frank Corder August 27, 2026. Raytheon announces completion of $50 million expansion in Forest. Business Cass Rutledge August 20, 2026. Solero Technologies announces $14 million expansion in Water Valley. Culture Meredith Biesinger September 1, 2026.

Meanwhile, a little bit petty, a whole lot creative: Inside Tupelo's Petty Betty's Art Studio. Culture Robert St. John August 31, 2026. A lifetime along the panhandle. Culture Alistair Begg August 31, 2026. This is the Lord's doing. Opinion Ashby Foote September 1, 2026. Energy Wars: Attack of the drones. Opinion Roger Wicker August 28, 2026. Reports of Mississippi momentum are true. Opinion Sid Salter August 26, 2026.

Taken together, the developments around god of the ordinary point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.