It’s a common social media experience: on an average day, we open our feed and see posts about a friend’s exotic vacation, a coworker’s engagement, and a family member’s new house. As we scroll, it can seem life is all about big, exciting moments—and everyone else is experiencing more of them than we are.
In reality though, if we count all the births, graduations, moves, weddings, vacations, and career changes, they can’t outnumber the times we wash dishes, go to work, grocery shop, help with homework, work out at the gym, sleep, and engage in conversations. Our lives are made up of these repetitive activities. And that repetition can wear on us and make us wonder, What’s the point?
But life’s repetitiveness looks different if we turn our focus to the character of God. We know God is intentional (Eph. 1:3–10) and looking to bless (Phil. 4:19). We know he is personal (Ps. 28:7) and has a great plan (Heb. 13:20–21). If these things are true, repetition isn’t pointless. Nor is it meant as a punishment or time-out until we can prove ourselves so God will do something grand in our lives. The purpose of this repetitive life is sanctification.
4 Blessings of Repetition
While God used the births of my three children and unwanted relocations to sanctify me, he uses my everyday, seemingly repetitive life to do the most work in my heart. Consider these blessings of repetition.
1. It teaches us how to act.
If repetition is part of God’s plan, we can stop fighting it and look to see what he’s teaching us, how he’s working, and whom he wants us to serve. We can have a heart of gratitude, a sense of awe, and eyes that see the small blessings we easily take for granted. Is he teaching us humility while cleaning a toilet? Servant-heartedness as we work with colleagues with whom we may not agree? Dependence with prayer as we send kids off to school? Thankfulness for our food when we’re making dinner? Kindness during an argument with a spouse?
God uses my everyday, seemingly repetitive life to do the most work in my heart.
God is calling us to live lives that please him, and by accepting the place where he has put us, we can do his good work with joyful hearts—even if it’s the same work we’ve done many times before. Repetition can teach us to trust the One who does good things in us even if what’s going on around us stays the same. A lot of life—especially the repetitive parts—can be tiring, but I feel new energy knowing God is using it for his glory.
2. It teaches us how to react.
Knowing I’m surrounded by people who are also dealing with repetitiveness allows me to show them grace, speak a kind word, and give the benefit of the doubt. Instead of feeling annoyed after I’m cut off in traffic, I consider that God may be using it to teach me patience and how to have a Christ-honoring response. Instead of being impatient with a child who has disobeyed once again, I can see it as an opportunity to show mercy while teaching them about responsibility. Instead of feeling insulted by a colleague, I can bring the offense to the Lord and ask for help in speaking clearly with grace.
3. It prepares us.
David Helm points out that while the book of Daniel highlights amazing events in Daniel’s life, surviving the lion’s den and the fiery furnace among them, there were actually just nine such events recorded over the course of his life. Nine events over 80 years. What was he doing during all that other time? “He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously” (Dan. 6:10). Daniel made a habit of prayer, thanksgiving, and trust.
Similarly, the repetition of spiritual disciplines practiced in the easy days can prepare us for the hard days. God doesn’t waste any of our days, so the redundant days must be good for us too. The repetition of reading the Scriptures, praying, living in community, and repenting are gifts. God wants us to take advantage of these blessings daily.
4. It reminds us of God’s mercy.
We can be sure that one thing we do repetitively is sin. We could be overwhelmed and oppressed by our sin nature if not for the repetitive forgiveness of our Lord. He’s gracious toward us in the seemingly endless cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness, even when we repeat the same sin over and over. We must remember that he delights to forgive us, remembers his covenant (Gen. 9:15–16), and removes our transgressions (Ps. 103:12).
God’s Care in Repetition
We often take for granted the repetition of nature because it’s so familiar. The changing of the seasons, the rising and setting of the sun, the perfect rotations that allow growth, sleep, and health. But the Creator God is amazingly intentional, and all creation is blessed by these rhythms.
The repetition of spiritual disciplines practiced in the easy days can prepare us for the hard days.
Could you imagine if we woke every morning just hoping the sun might rise? Or how unsure we would feel if we didn’t know whether to expect a blizzard or an 80-degree day? What a blessing to see God’s daily care of repetition and the strange safety it provides.
God’s gift of repetitive days mirrors his repetitive work of sanctification. It’s all for our good in becoming more like Jesus and will, thankfully, continue until we go home to glory. So be encouraged in your repetitive life, knowing that God ordains our days—even the ones that aren’t exciting enough to post about.