“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands”—Psalm 90:17
There is something lasting in accomplishing our ordinary tasks each day, even those we do every day of the year, like making the morning coffee, taking our vitamins, washing and putting away dishes, taking out the trash, preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner; mopping the floors, dusting the furniture, de-cluttering the house, organizing stuff, feeding and caring for kids and pets.
Although tasks can often get boring and make us want to run the other way and hide from them, there is also a deep satisfaction we can discover in doing what’s often seen as mundane.
God’s Favor and Establishment are on the Work of our hands
As the Psalm explains, the work of hands can be favored and established by God, which is why we can draw satisfaction from it.
Unlike some believe, work is not a dirty word. It was created and ordained by God before the fall of man. Although many try to avoid it, there is great value and many rich benefits in incorporating it into our lives.
When God placed Adam and Eve and gave them assignments to work and take care of the garden, as Genesis 2:15 describes, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
As well, as the Apostle Paul explains in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Overcoming the Dread of Work
Sadly, for many, work is a dread in their lives, and the natural joy of working likely took a blow with man’s fall in the garden, causing us to see it as an obstruction and a delay to doing what our hearts really want to do each day.
For some, work robs us of our strength and enthusiasm, and in some ways it drains us, but we can recover from the pitfalls of letting it wear us down rather than build us up.
Because God established work before the fall of man, it’s wise for us to consider whether reluctance to work is tied to the rebellion against God brought into our world through sin.
Looking at Everyday Tasks through a New Lens
What we consider humdrum and tedious work can become satisfying and rewarding when we look at it through a new lens.
Paul urges us in Ephesians 6:7-8, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.”
Rather than dread it, we can embrace it, understanding that all we do for God leads to rewards, rather than letting the repetitiveness and seemingly drabness of life’s work and tasks wear us down.
Jesus explained to us in Luke 16:10, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
Faithfulness in the seemingly little things in life is actually a test that leads us to greater responsibilities.
Everyday Tasks Help Support Life
As Psalm 102:25 describes, “In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.”
Before God created everything on earth with His hands, He laid the foundations to support life. In our lives, the work of our hands helps establish foundations that support us, too.
God created order, and in our lives, even though everyday tasks take time, they help create order and lay the groundwork for our days, weeks, months, and years ahead, ultimately strengthening our lives in the long run.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father, thank you for the everyday tasks that help us build a strong foundation. Help us to be faithful in the little things we do each day and to do them unto you. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Delmaine Donson
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Monday, 25 May 2026.
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