Or do I?

The other day I was driving and next to me was a lady driving her car while reading what appeared to be a magazine. I could not believe my eyes!

Our culture is so obsessed with keeping ourselves busy we can’t even drive a car (keeping ourselves and others safe) so we must drive while reading a magazine. 

We spend almost our entire day keeping ourselves busy. We stay busy with activities. We keep our children busy. We are on social media all day. We watch TV at night. We put on music, we read, and so on. I am certainly not against putting on worship music, reading a great book that will add value to my life and others, but I get it – we cannot stand to let our minds rest without doing something to keep it busy.

We hate to be bored!

We don’t talk to people. 

We look at our phones, so we don’t have to be bored, pretending to be busy looking at social media, and ignore the world around us. In this article from Forbes.com the author shares how when he was a child his father always told him it’s okay to be bored. In fact, this author purposely allows himself to be bored on a regular basis because he’s learned how much creativity and problem solving comes from letting our minds rest to daydream which has turned into a huge benefit for his business.

I wonder how much we forfeit in life with our obsession to stay busy.

Guess Who was Really Bored?

The Apostle Paul was a Jewish leader and a persecutor of Christians who followed Jesus Christ. Paul, who was born Saul, was killing Christians until he met Jesus Christ on a Damascus Road.

Acts: 9:3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Paul fell to the ground and asked a question.

Acts: 9:5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

Jesus Christ replied as to who He was, the person Paul was persecuting.

Paul then asks. 

Acts 9:6 “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

Paul would spend the rest of his life doing what Jesus Christ told him to do. He would learn who Jesus Christ was. He would begin to preach about Jesus Christ. He would become a missionary for Jesus Christ, start churches and then he would be a prisoner for Jesus Christ, living in physical prison chained to the ground where he wrote several Epistles. 

Do you think Paul had a valid case for boredom while in jail?

What would you do if you were forced to give up your gadgets that keep you busy? What would you do if you couldn’t go on the vacation you’re dreaming about? What if all your exciting plans for the day were suddenly canceled and you were forced to stay home all day – and on top of that, the power goes out thirty minutes later and stays out all day?

How frustrated would you be? 

Would you embrace the boredom and listen to your Lord and Savior speak to you that day, or would you spend your entire day upset?

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Dear friend, do we have any idea how much our lives have been shaped and changed by the teachings of the Apostle Paul? You are a better person today because of Paul’s teachings. He was a champion of spreading the Gospel! Do you know Paul could not have heard from Jesus Christ to write the Epistles had he kept himself busy?

Friend, what are your forfeiting in your life right now for fear of boredom? What is God wanting to do in your life for His Kingdom that you are missing because your schedule is full, your social media “Likes” drives you, your favorite TV show is coming on? In no way am I suggesting we shouldn’t do things we enjoy but if you are not in tune to how much this world drives you to keep you busy, your busyness will make you miss out on hearing from God. 

Sometimes we get it so wrong. We think whatever God wants to do in our lives one day a “breakthrough” will come. What if the breakthrough starts with you? What if the breakthrough is allowing yourself to be bored so you can hear from God?

Start a Habit of Boredom

Make it a habit to allow yourself to be bored sometime. Intentionally set days and times to turn everything off so you can listen to God. Pray and ask Him to guide your life. Speak and tell him you are committed to Him on your designated days. Do you know that whenever I verbally make a promise to God, I usually don’t break it. It’s easier to stick with your habits when you speak out loud your promises to God. 

He has great plans through your life. He is just waiting for you.

Allow yourself to be bored. 

Instead of hating boredom, embrace it – to change the world for God’s Kingdom.

Romans 12:16 “do not be wise in your own opinion.”

~Saleama A. Ruvalcaba, MATS

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not email me today and I will pray with you.