Noonday Notes, Issue 12

Issue No. 12

August 22nd, 2025

Grinding and Grumbling

This week I’ve been reflecting on the grind—the daily, mundane routines of life that are rarely glamorous, but always necessary. Making my bed, doing laundry, washing dishes, cooking meals, and yes, pulling weeds. None of it is exciting, but they are faithful acts of discipline that form me and prepare the way for future fruitfulness. At least that’s what I tell myself when pulling relentless grass out of the garden before sunrise and after sunset.

In the wilderness, God’s people learned this lesson in a very tangible way. In Exodus 16, when they were restless, irritable, and discontent, God provided.

“...behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.”

They couldn’t store it up or skip gathering it; they had to rise, go out, and trust that the next morning God’s provision would be there again. Some days they grumbled, but the daily bread was always there.

I find myself identifying with that story lately. With many unknowns in my life right now, I struggle with worrying about what provision will look like. And yet I try to keep coming back to the truth that God is faithful-not always in advance, not always with surplus, but always enough for today. The grind of showing up, doing the daily tasks, having discipline, and gathering the “manna” in front of us is how we practice our trust in God that He will provide enough for today and will bring abundance in His time. The garden teaches us that daily tending, though mundane, is what eventually makes a harvest possible.

Read the rest of the newsletter here.