'Tis the season for Distractions

When I started thinking about my next topic to write, I noticed that it was very hard for me to stay on task. Now, this isn’t unusual for me because of my diagnosed ADHD, but this was the first time where it occurred to me that I use distractions as a means of rest. You probably do it too…. Ever find yourself after work you sit in your chair, turn on the tv, and scroll through social media; when you know you have something other than that to be doing. You are distracting yourself from the things of the day, but one thing is always true, those stresses of the day always come back, may not be at that moment, but they will.

With my everyday busy life, I am in constant “go-mode.” So, when it is time for me to “relax,” I tend to do something that could be considered relaxing but ultimately just masks the everyday. I love being creative, but I always tend to do creative things during the most stressful times of my life. I try to use a different part of my brain to distract myself from the stress, so I end up drawing, or painting, or writing, really anything that isn't the stressful situation. Here’s the thing, the stressful situation is still there, I just masked it with creativity. I may have been relaxed for about 45 minutes doing whatever it was, but right after, I am right back where I started.

There was a person in the Bible who did something very similar, David. There are so many good stories of David to unpack, I mean after all, he was a man after God's heart. The story that I'm talking about is David and Bathsheba's origin story. This story is the one that caused a snag in his reputation. For those that don’t remember the story, or those that have no idea what I am talking about, here is a quick synopsis.

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Quick synopsis: Israel was in a war trying to expand borders. David, who was supposed to be in battle, stayed home in Jerusalem in his palace while his men fought. While at home, he saw Bathsheba bathing and he called for her, even knowing she was married to one of his soldiers, Uriah. David committed adultery. Bathsheba became pregnant and told David. David panicked and he sent for Uriah. He called Uriah to come have dinner at the palace, where David ultimately got Uriah drunk and sent him home to lay with his wife. Instead, Uriah slept outside on the street because his brothers were fighting in a war and he didn’t feel right by sleeping in a bed. So, David sent him back out to war with a note to his general to put Uriah at the frontlines and when they went to attack, all the other soldiers except for Uriah would pull back ultimately murdering Uriah. Because of this, God punished David by them losing their child. (Please, read 2 Samuel 11)

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David was ultimately supposed to be out fighting with his fellow men. He was supposed to be commanding his army, but instead, he chose to stay back. He chose to rest, and in the midst of that rest he was vulnerable to distractions, and that is exactly what happened. One distraction caused another distraction and then caused another distraction. Now, he was so immersed with these distractions that he ultimately forgot what he was doing in the first place.... resting or what he thought was resting.

I know that the pressures of the world can sometimes be unbearable, but God has called you into this season for a reason, just like He called David to be on the battle field. He knows that there will be times that you get distracted, but He also knows that this too shall pass.

1 Corinthians 7:35 – and this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. – Paul was talking about marriage, but there is so much good in this verse. God isn’t saying to you that you shouldn’t rest, you shouldn’t have social media, or watch tv, or in my case, be creative, but that He wants you to do it in a way that is pleasing to Him without it being the cause of a distraction. David needed rest, but He had a specific place that he needed to be and he wasn’t. God calls you somewhere for a reason, He calls for you to be stationed and steadfast where you are, without distractions. He wants you to rest through Christ and not the ways of this world.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. – We’ve all heard the expression, “ God won’t give you more than you can handle.” This is true, but He will give us more than WE think we can handle. God wants you to rely on Him for our rest, even when we are in the midst of a battle we think we can't handle.

Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God – God speaks to us in a small, still voice; when things are chaotic or distracting, you have to work extra hard to hear Him. You have to rest and renew your mind daily to be able to do so, but not by creating more distractions, but by sitting with Him and in His word will you be able to rest and hear from Him.

I know we’re in the holiday of distractions, but I want to encourage you all to rest with Jesus. Let's put down the phone and tv, let's put away all negative distractions and get into our word. Let's spend some more time with God and allow Him to speak to us this holiday season rather than being so caught up in the activities of the season. Jesus is worthy to be celebrated, today and everyday.

Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas,

Em