Quiet Acts of Obedience (Part 1)

Parenthood, albeit full of joy and gratitude, is also full of thankless moments. Comforting new babies at all hours of the night can be overwhelming and exhausting. Making sure the baseball uniform has been scrubbed free of dirt prior to the next game can be tedious. Cooking a meal for your family that goes mostly uneaten is frustrating. The list goes on and on. At times, it can be easy to throw one’s hands into the air and cry out “Does what I’m doing even matter?”

As part of my moms’ study group, we decided to read a book over the summer called Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler. One night when doing my weekly reading, I couldn’t help but notice the full-page black and white illustration on page 37.

Next to a beautiful flower was the simple, yet hopeful phrase, “All our quiet acts of obedience will be seen, rewarded, and praised for the glory of God.”

I had just recently spent an evening with other moms of little ones. With our conversations about motherhood and marriage fresh in my mind, I had an “Aha!” moment - a God-at-work moment. Here was a reminder that our efforts to honor God in our marriage and parenting were not lost in the day-to-day shuffle. While they may have been lost on our spouse or our children, they were in fact seen and noted by our almighty God.

In this three-part series, we will take a closer look at how these quiet acts of obedience are noticed by God and give us hope for both today and for the future.

Part 1: All Our Quiet Acts of Obedience Will be Seen

We live in a world where people are paid millions of dollars to be seen. Influencers on social media, for example, are paid the big bucks to sell products to as many people as possible. Just this past summer, people paid hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a single ticket to see a popular singer live in concert as she toured the country. It is easy to get caught up in the thrill of being seen.

But as followers of Christ, there are often blessings in the quiet, private moments. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He instructs the people to do a few things in private. Matthew chapter six shares how giving to the needy, praying, and fasting are to be kept between an individual and the Lord. Three times Jesus shares, “Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4b; 6b; 18b).

Here, Jesus acknowledges God’s omnipresence, or His ability to be everywhere at one time. Matthew 6 is not the only place in the Bible where God’s omnipresence is mentioned. Back in the Old Testament, God was also known for this. Psalm 139 explores God’s omnipresence throughout the chapter, stating “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” in verse seven. Proverbs 15:3 shares, “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” Jeremiah 23:24 reassures that, “’Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the LORD. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the LORD.”

So, what does this have to do with our quiet acts of obedience?

It means that nothing gets past the God of the Universe. It means that in every moment of our lives, we are seen by the almighty Lord.

God sees you taking a deep breath and carefully choosing your words instead of immediately yelling at your child or spouse. God sees you tidying the kitchen after dinner so your family can feel peace and ease in the morning rush. God sees your efforts of catching up with a Bible reading plan or listening to a faith-based podcast on the way to afternoon pickup. God sees you examining every food label to ensure your child does not experience an allergic reaction.

These quiet acts of obedience are choices we make to follow God’s way instead of choosing our own way. These quiet acts of obedience are a result of the Holy Spirit being present within us. They acknowledge our desire to die to the selfish ways of the flesh and live a God-honoring life.

But choosing quiet acts of obedience is not always easy. Our emotions and our physical bodies are connected, so when we experience a feeling, it can radiate throughout our entire self. Perpetually draining acts of obedience, such as navigating a spouse’s porn addiction or staying in a loveless marriage, can leave us fatigued if we try to rely solely on ourselves.

Fortunately, we follow a God who understands the human condition. Jesus, who was both fully God and fully human, reminds His disciples that this life would not be easy. In John 16:33 He shares, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Here, Jesus not only acknowledges the struggle of this world but encourages His followers to find peace in Him. Jesus willingly went to the cross, died, defeated death, and returned to life so that as children of God, we have hope for a perfect future with the Lord over everything. God is faithful and we can trust in His promises.

Not only is God everywhere at once, but He is also omniscient, which means all-knowing. As an all-knowing God, He knows our hearts. God knows our values, our passions, and what motivates us to make the choices we do. He sees the desire in our hearts for our little ones to feel comfort and peace as we snuggle them back to sleep after a bad dream. He sees us yearning for our spouse’s mental health to improve and understands the ache and frustration we feel when they deny seeing a counselor. He hears our worries about our child starting middle school this fall and if they are ready for this next life stage. Nothing gets past the God of the Universe.

This very same God is accessible and wants you to come to Him. 1 Peter 5:7 instructs, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” While parenting and marriage have their share of anxieties, we could also say, cast all your frustrations, annoyances, or irritations on Him because He cares for you. The God who created you wants a relationship with you and wants you to seek Him.

In the times when it feels like you are never quite understood by the ones you love, please remember that the God who intentionally created you sees you, remembers you, and knows your heart. The same God who created the mountains and the depths of the oceans hears every single prayer that you quietly utter. He sees the choices you make and knows the motivations for each one. He knows all parts of you and still calls you His child, His heir. (Romans 8:17)

Stay tuned for the next blog posts covering how all our quiet acts of obedience will be rewarded and how our quiet acts of obedience will be praised for the glory of God.