The lesson the Lord has been teaching me lately almost seems contradictory in my mind, yet He’s been confirming it to me. The lesson is – I need to have more fun.
Since the time of my concussion and infertility, I’ve been so blessed with the Lord’s hard work in digging up past hurts and healing each one at a time. It’s been years of learning greater discipline in all areas of my life, along with therapy, and paying off the debt.
I began to feel the Lord’s lesson of having fun to me after paying off the house. I share this in the book, Sustaining Hope. I thought it just meant that He wanted me to not hold so tightly to building up our savings and be able to enjoy the victory and accomplishment of our financial freedom.
Going out west to visit my brother brought this lesson of fun to a whole new light. There were a few opportunities to have special time alone with my niece and nephews while my brother and sister-in-law were busy. To be honest, I panicked at first. It’s been a few years since I worked at the school or been around kids, and I had forgotten how to play. Thankfully, my niece is quite imaginative and instructed me with everything she wanted me to do. The boys were easy as they are getting older, so sports and games were their go-to.
It really hit me though when I watched my brother and sister-in-law enjoy in a shot-for-shot nerf crossbow war. I was in tears of laughter as they willingly shot at each other for fun.
The longer I was there, the more I noticed the gap in my own life. I had been so focused on “taking up my cross,” and enduring the suffering of my situation, that I had lost part of my child-like spirit. I have been craving adventure lately but couldn’t understand why.
I think the longer you endure suffering, the easier it is to lose sight of joyful play. I could tell I had lost so much of this when I started questioning if having fun is even Biblical.
The Lord loves a childlike spirit. We know this by His examples of children’s faith to His disciples. The Lord never openly tells us to be adventurous and have fun in life, but there are hints about it, along with guidelines to follow to keep our play honouring to Him. King Solomon talked a lot about this in the book of Ecclesiastes:
“There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him? 26 For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
“a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;” Ecclesiastes 3:4
“I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
“Here is what I have seen to be good: It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. 19 Furthermore, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, he has also allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, 20 for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Work hard and enjoy the results of your labour. Have fun with the focus of thanksgiving and honour to the Lord. Because the more you enjoy, the more your love for life and others grows as well. It refreshes your weary soul. If you allow the weight of your suffering to overwhelm you, you’ll be stuck in the heaviness. Remember, “There is a time to weep and a time to laugh” (emphasis added).
Michael and I went on a date on Saturday. We went bowling and played some games in the arcade. It was a great time together that strangely helped us connect on a deeper level. Then we were able to give thanks to the Lord for that special time together and praise Him for it.
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
Remember that everything comes from the Lord and is for Him. Give thanks for the opportunities you have. If you aren’t sure if your enjoyment is good and acceptable to Him, check the Bible first.
Are you stuck in a rut like I was? What is something fun you can do that might stretch you or push you out of your comfort zone a bit? God created joy, laughter, and dancing. He made us to be creative. Often, it’s in the fun that new ideas come.
Yes, we are to be faithful, hard-working, disciplined men and women for Jesus, but we’re also supposed to enjoy this gift of life that God’s given us, because that will also help our relationship grow with Him as well.
Has God been teaching you an interesting lesson lately?
