The Benefit of Boring

Hey y’all,

Is it just me or do some of my most rewarding “successes” feel a little…anticlimactic? The rewards of faithfulness rarely comes with confetti or a standing ovation. More often, it shows up in the quiet moments—a spiritual “ah-ha” moment during a Bible study, whispering a prayer over your kids and remembering how many times you prayed for them just to exist, or experiencing answered prayers that no one else knows about. But it’s in these mundane, unseen acts that perhaps God does His deepest work in us.

This month, I just felt the tug to write about the unglamorous, unseen, holy grind of mundane faithfulness. Because the most powerful spiritual formation—and lasting success—happens not on stages, successful product launches, or public popularity, but in the ordinary routines commonly overlooked.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Faith

Let’s take a look at some unsung heroes in the Bible. (Good luck pronouncing the second one.)

• Anna (Luke 2:36-38): Anna is described as an elderly prophetess who had been widowed for decades. She spent her days worshiping, fasting, and praying in the temple—day and night. Because of her consistent devotion, Anna was present when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple, and she immediately recognized Him as the promised Messiah. She gave thanks to God and spoke about Jesus to everyone looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Anna’s life wasn’t marked by big, flashy moments, but by decades of quiet, unseen faithfulness, positioning her to see and proclaim the arrival of Jesus when He came. And hey, her name made it into the Bible–a win is a win.

• Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30): Epaphroditus was a Christian from the church in Philippi who was sent by the Philippian believers to deliver their financial gifts and support to Paul while he was imprisoned (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). While serving Paul, Epaphroditus became seriously ill—so ill that he nearly died. Despite his sickness, he continued to serve and encourage Paul, showing deep commitment and selfless love. Paul describes him as: “My brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs”. When Epaphroditus recovered, Paul sent him back to Philippi with the letter we now know as Philippians, both to thank the church for their support and to reassure them of Epaphroditus’s recovery. Paul urges the church to “honor people like him” (Philippians 2:29), highlighting that his faithful service deserved respect and gratitude.

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Maybe you have, but I have not heard a sermon series about Epaphroditusjsljflks… But here he is, taking up space in God’s word by name—because of his faithfulness and diligence, even when it was, ya know, on the verge of death.

Small Choices, Big Impact

Here are the examples that come to my head that reach beyond spiritual faithfulness…

Our children don’t grow up with character, kindness, and love because of a couple of grand gestures and flashy dance recitals. They become who they are through years of relational moments, consistent discipline, listening ears, and whispered prayers. It’s the small, daily choices to parent diligently and faithfully that shape their hearts.

Businesses don’t become successful because of one viral campaign or super cute instagram post. Sustainable growth comes through years of strategic planning, thoughtful execution, (sometimes reevaluation,) customer care, and quietly solving problems day after day.

Ministries don’t thrive because of a handful of inspiring events with fog machines. They are built on the daily actions of pastors and volunteers showing up, stewarding resources wisely, mentoring leaders, and championing the mission when no one’s cheering.

Everyone else may see the big wins—the graduation day, the product launch, the packed sanctuary—but don’t be fooled: those moments are made possible by countless ordinary, often boring, faithful decisions over time.

The Heart Check: Who Are You When No One is Watching?

In a world obsessed with what’s visible, we have to ask ourselves: Are we committed to excellence, diligence and faithfulness every day, or only when it’s post-worthy?

Are we anchored in faith-forming activities even when it feels monotonous?

Hot take: I believe Christians are formed most by mundane, faithful church attendance than by anything else. This ordinary faithfulness builds extraordinary depth. The local church is God’s design. It’s the Body of Christ, and if you’re a believer, you are a part of it and you have a function. The discipline it takes to be a faithful member of a body of believers pursuing the Lord in spirit and in truth, giving the first day of your week, keeping each other accountable, raising families with Christ-like virtues, studying the word together, praying for one another, worshiping together corporately–this is God’s idea. It is no accident that when you are a part of something I just described, your spiritual battery is consistently full! (Even if you are truly exhausted after church each Sunday.)

But beyond the spiritual application: this principle is true for almost all sectors of our lives. Ordinary things lead to extraordinary results.

Key Spiritual Disciplines for the Every Day:

• Personal Worship: All things can arguably be worship, but I do literally mean exercise your music muscles. Music is such a miraculous gift from God that evokes emotions like nothing else. Find time to magnify the name of Jesus and practice declaring His truth out loud.

• Prayer: Keep the conversation alive even when it feels repetitive. Pray with your kids before bed. Pray with your spouse. Go for a walk and really get into it with God. He can handle it!

• Bible Study: Stay grounded in truth on both boring and bad days. Don’t rely only on your pastor or small group leader to read the Bible with you or interpret it for you. Reading the Bible is something you can do totally alone and your biblical literacy will increase, as will your ability to allow scripture to interpret itself for you.

Slow down…

On the flip side, don’t mistake this for a call to mediocrity. We are called to do everything with excellence and to the glory of God. If God gives you a platform or opportunity to serve publicly, say YES with boldness. But private disciplines must come first.

Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”

A Real-Life Story from My World

Whether it’s worship ministry on stage or writing these monthly newsletters, I am in constant prayer that I’m not running ahead of what God wants from me, and at the same time praying that I’m being obedient when I do feel prompted to pursue something that I believe is at His request. If you are feeling led to step out into a public sphere and use your influence, I am cheering you on! I am simply preaching to myself and reminding us all that God deserves our private devotion, and not just our public displays of affection. In fact, if you are going to be bold in this regard, you better be tight with Jesus because it is not for the faint of heart!

Reflections for Dreamers and Doers

• Where do I need to recommit to the boring but important work?

• What daily choices are building long-term faithfulness in my family, business, or ministry?

• How can I embrace private disciplines even when they don’t feel exciting?

Resource I’m Loving

One of my all-time favorite resources that undoubtedly shaped my Bible study habits is the book, “Women of the Word” by Jen Wilkin. This book simplifies our approach to the Bible in such a refreshing and necessary way. We aren’t to seek scripture like a magic 8 ball–shake it and hope it gives us the answer we need on the fly… no. We study, diligently, day in and day out, so that we understand the fullness of God and His character and we can act with maturity in wisdom as life unfolds. Real fruit comes from small, consistent steps over time.

A Prayer for the Quietly Faithful

Lord, thank You for the gift of ordinary days. Remind us that unseen faithfulness is not wasted, but where You form our hearts and deepen our trust. Help us to persevere in the small things, knowing that You see, and You are pleased. Amen.

Keep showing up. The boring stuff matters more than you think!

Less grinding this month, more grace,

Monica Lynch