Where I See God in the Small Stuff (Yes, Even Clogged Drains and Finals Week)

A moment of reflection — Photo by Kelly Sikkema (@InkyPixels)

You know those days, right? The ones where you’re juggling a work deadline, trying to figure out what’s for dinner, and your young adult daughter is glued to her laptop stressing about her last round of finals. And then, just for good measure, you turn on the kitchen faucet only to watch the water stubbornly stand still. Yep, a clogged drain. It’s moments like these, the totally unremarkable (and mildly infuriating) ones, where I’ve started to notice God showing up.

For a long time, I thought finding God meant setting aside specific time – quiet mornings with my Bible, church on Sundays, or maybe a meditation retreat. And those times are wonderful, essential even. But lately, as the days stretch longer and summer plans begin to swirl, I’ve found Him nestled right in the ordinary. Like, in the deep breath I take before tackling that drain with a plunger, reminding myself that even this small act requires a touch of patience and problem-solving, skills given to us. Or in the unexpected laugh when I realize I’m talking to a drainpipe like it’s personally offended me.

Then there's finals week. Watching my daughter navigate the pressure of it all, staying up late, the coffee consumption hitting an all-time high. It's easy to get caught up in her anxiety, to want to fix everything for her. But I’ve learned that sometimes, God shows up in the simple act of making her a warm cup of tea, in an encouraging hug, or in the quiet trust that she's capable and will figure it out, even if she stumbles a bit. It’s in the letting go, handing it over, knowing that even academic stress has a bigger purpose in shaping her resilience.

It’s not in the big, grand gestures, but in the flicker of understanding, the quiet grace, the tiny moments of connection or even frustration that make up a day. It’s in the deep sigh after a long day, realizing I made it through. It’s in remembering that even when things feel messy or overwhelming, there’s an undercurrent of divine presence, a gentle hand guiding us, even if it's just to the hardware store for drain cleaner. It makes the everyday feel a little less mundane, and a lot more meaningful.

What's a small, unexpected moment where you've recently felt God's presence?