The Benefits of Boredom This Summer
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The Fourth of July has wrapped up, and school supplies shopping is quickly approaching. Do you find yourself twiddling your thumbs and wondering how to spend these last days of summer? Today, we are going to dive into the benefits of boredom this summer. I recently read “Let Them Be Kids” by Jessica Smartt. In her book, she teaches lessons based on her life as a mother of three children whom she homeschools. One of the most intriguing themes in the book is her constant emphasis on the gift of boredom to children. Think about the blessing of boredom. It can be really helpful to spur on creativity, problem-solving, and cultivate hard work around a home. So maybe you are tempted to turn on another show, give your child your phone, or scroll to look at a volume of advertisements on social media. Stop, take a minute, and allow yourself and your kids to be bored. Today, we are going to address the benefits of boredom this summer.
The Benefit of Creativity
If we give ourselves constant noise, we are always overstimulated, and we never take a minute to be still, we will miss the wonder that is found in creativity. Think about the most creative person that you know. What inspires him or her? How does the song get written, that masterpiece painted, or the beautiful dinner party get hosted? Space to create is necessary. When I ponder space, it takes me to Genesis 1. Genesis 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” First, we noticed that in the beginning, God created. He had space to make something new. Notice the phrases like “The earth was formless” and “God saw that the light was good.” When we reflect on a formless world, it leads us to truly be in awe of Jeremiah 13 that He is the Potter and we are the clay. Or Psalm 95:4, which says, “In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also.” When we think about creativity, a lot of it comes through the work of our hands. When we allow our children and ourselves to be bored, we recognize the hands that He has given us to model His work in creation. This could be a child building a tower out of Legos, creating a drawing from his or her imagination, or playing pirates in the backyard. None of those things happen if we deprive them of boredom by always giving them exactly what to do or having them watch screens because it’s easy. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is a place for the fun of modern-day technology, but I find myself making sure that it is not my default for myself or my children.
The Benefit of Community
When we are stripped of the “what to do,” we can often look around at who is around us. Boredom can be a catalyst for community and deeper relationships. It might lead us to walk over to a neighbor’s house, whom we often drive past. It could encourage us to try our hand at a group or call that long-distance family member. Boredom leads us to pause and think. When your children or grandchildren are bored, encourage them to try to play or create together. These are wonderful opportunities to begin modeling God’s design to be the body of Christ. We all have various abilities and giftings. When we have the space and time together, we can do more than on our own.
The Benefit of Stewardship
Boredom often leads us to look around our everyday environments and ask what needs to be done. I have some friends right now doing some serious summer cleaning and decluttering. This could be an opportunity to steward your home or apartment well. Do you have a messy closet? Is your house overrun with things that need to be donated to others? Could you try some basic gardening and take care of herbs, vegetables, or plants? It is extremely tempting to be lazy when we are bored. This is the fleshly inclination. We have nothing to do, we are weary from the stresses of the world, so we can just do nothing and sit around and waste time. However, if we allow, boredom can lead us to a beautiful stewardship of the spaces that God has provided for us to fill. We can model Him as Creator.
The Benefit of Connecting with God
Although it is a gift wrapped in an often unattractive bow, boredom is not something that children love. It can be lonely, it is uncomfortable, and it can be downright, well, boring. This led me to ponder my walk with God more. Am I willing to be bored with God? Am I willing to be silent and rest in His presence? Maybe you feel like taking time to pray, be still, or read the Bible is not exciting. This seems boring to you. But if God could create the world when it was nonexistent and the world was formless and He filled it, He can meet us in the moments when we are still and surrendered. He wants to fill our minds with thoughts of His and our hearts with His ways.
In fact, Scripture tells us in Ephesians 5:18, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” We are all empty vessels with nothing to offer God but filthy rags, but by His grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can be sealed by His Holy Spirit, and filled with the Holy Spirit daily. Our Creator is very good at filling intentional spaces. We are His workmanship, we are His creation. How amazing is it that He fills us with Himself. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Colossians 3:10 says, “And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” When was the last time you asked, “God, would you please be creative in my life and heart?” Or “Lord, would you do a new work in me?” It is a humbling place to realize that we are not just the ones creating and problem-solving in our own boredom, we are, in fact, the creations being sanctified and made new by His Spirit’s work in us. We are but dust, we are the clay, we can surrender to the capable hands of the Potter. When we are bored, we not only receive the benefit of creating ourselves, but the gift of surrender to being transformed into the image of Christ. The benefit of connecting with God leads to a changed heart, mind, and life.
The Benefit of Rest
Although laziness is not the goal, maybe the Lord has given you boredom to help you slow down and find rest in Him. Perhaps you are coming out of an exhausting season, and you need renewal. Do not waste those moments of boredom and fill the time with busyness, press into the quiet spaces, and take a nap, recharge with a book, go for a gentle nature walk, or journal. Rest might be exactly what you need this summer to gear up for the fall ahead. May we allow our boredom to lead us to places of creativity, community, stewardship, connection with God, and rest. Our lives can model our Creator this summer in ways we may never have thought about before. Enjoy your boredom this summer and ask the Spirit to use it for the glory of God!
