One of Those Days

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalms 118:24 KJV                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                         Have you ever had “one of those days”? You know the kind where things just seem off and nothing goes well. Maybe your first thought is, “Every day feels like one of those days!” But that’s not the kind of day I’m talking about. I’m talking about the kind of day when, as you lay your head on your pillow that night, you realize something you said, something you did, or simply the way you showed up made a genuine difference in someone else’s life. It’s the kind of day that reminds you your actions mattered, your kindness had an impact, and your presence was a gift. Those are the days that leave an imprint, not just on the lives of others, but on our own hearts as well.

God often gives us opportunities—quiet, ordinary moments that become “one of those days” where our words or actions make a real difference in someone else’s life, even when we may never fully see the impact. This isn’t meant to be a sentimental or overly warm reflection but something grounded and honest that we can all relate to. When we look to God’s Word, we’re reminded that meaningful impact is often found in simple obedience and everyday faithfulness. The following examples highlight how small, seemingly unnoticed acts can carry lasting significance in another person’s story.

One powerful example is found in Exodus 17. Moses, along with Aaron and Hur, went up to the top of the hill as Joshua led Israel into battle. As long as Moses held his hands up, Israel prevailed; but when his arms grew tired, and he lowered them, the battle began to turn against them. Recognizing his weariness, Aaron and Hur stepped in, placing a stone beneath him to help him sit, and then physically supporting his hands until victory was secured.

Without their quiet, steady support, the outcome of the battle could have been very different—likely with devastating loss of life. Moses certainly felt their help, but the greater impact went far beyond what he personally experienced.

Consider the thousands of Israelites in the valley below. Most of them had no idea what was happening on that hillside. They simply fought and ultimately lived to see another day, unaware that their survival was being strengthened by the unseen faithfulness of Aaron and Hur.

Hur, whose name appears only a handful of times in Scripture and is associated with several individuals, might easily be overlooked. Yet his quiet obedience played a part in a defining victory for Israel.

Even Joshua and the soldiers likely never saw the full picture in that moment. They only knew the outcome: the battle was won.

Another example is found in 1 Samuel 1. Hannah came to the temple deeply burdened, pouring out her heart to God in silent, fervent prayer—so distraught that only her lips moved. Eli, observing her from a distance, mistakenly assumed she was intoxicated and confronted her, questioning how long she would behave that way and urging her to put away her wine.

Hannah gently explained that she was not drunk or morally careless, but rather a woman overwhelmed with sorrow, pouring out her soul before the Lord. Once he understood, Eli responded with a simple but profound blessing in 1 Samuel 1:17: “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him.”

We cannot know whether Eli fully grasped the weight of that moment or the life-altering impact of his words. Yet from that encounter came Samuel—the prophet who would go on to anoint kings and shape the spiritual direction of a nation, including Saul and David.

It is unlikely Eli could have imagined that a brief, misunderstood interaction in the temple would become part of a much larger redemptive story. And yet it reminds us of a powerful truth: we rarely see the full impact of our words or actions. God often uses small, seemingly ordinary moments to shape outcomes far greater than we could ever anticipate.

You may be reading these stories and thinking, “Yes, but those are extraordinary people involved in extraordinary moments.” It can feel as though your own life doesn’t quite belong in that category—that what you do is too ordinary for God to use in any meaningful way. But that assumption misses something essential about how God works.

Take Jesse, the father of David, for example. Scripture doesn’t highlight him as a mighty warrior, prophet, or king. In many ways, his life appears quiet and unremarkable. One of the most significant things we see him do is simple: he sends food to his sons on the battlefield and asks young David to take provisions and check on his brothers.

It was that very errand—something as ordinary as delivering lunch—that placed David in a position to hear the taunts of Goliath. And from that moment, history shifted. David stepped into his calling, Goliath fell, and Israel experienced victory in a way no one could have scripted. We can’t help but wonder: if Jesse had chosen not to send David, or if he had sent someone else, would that moment have ever happened?

Then there is Obed-Edom, a man who simply opened his home to the Ark of the Covenant for three months. He didn’t lead an army or perform a public miracle. He was simply faithful in receiving what God placed in his care. Yet Scripture tells us that God blessed him and his household in extraordinary ways, and his family went on to serve in the house of the Lord. Sometimes obedience looks like making room for God in what we already have.

When we step back and look at these lives—Hur holding up weary arms, Eli speaking a blessing over a misunderstood woman, Jesse sending a simple provision, Obed-Edom offering space in his home—we begin to see a pattern. None of them may have seemed remarkable in the moment. None likely understood the full scope of their impact.

Yet each one played a part in something far greater than themselves.

That is the invitation for us as well. You don’t have to hold a title, perform a miracle, or change the world in a dramatic moment to matter in God’s Kingdom. Often, it is the quiet acts of obedience, kindness, availability, and faithfulness that become the very tools God uses to shape history in ways we may never fully see this side of heaven.

Because in God’s hands, even the smallest act is never small.

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Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for reminding us that no act of obedience is too small for You to use. Open our eyes to see the moments You place before us each day. Help us to be faithful in the ordinary things, trusting that You are working through what we cannot see. Keep us from underestimating the impact of a kind word, a simple yes, or a willing heart. Use our lives for Your glory, even in ways we may never fully understand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Your Turn

• Where might God be inviting you to simple obedience right now?

• Can you recall a “small” moment in your life that later revealed a much bigger impact?

• Who in your life might need a word of encouragement, help, or support this week?

• What ordinary act could you offer today that might become part of someone else’s breakthrough?