Dealing with boredom while running the race

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Lots of runners naturally enjoy the long run. However, there are also lots of runners who just can’t seem to bring themselves to complete a long run. It’s not so much the exertion. It’s not even the pain. For many, the block that is holding them back from running a long race, at first, appears much less menacing: sheer and utter boredom.

As much fun as race day is; as exhilarating and demanding as a speed workout might be; there are those long runs that are just plain boring. That’s why many runners only do the short runs or never complete the long runs they do try. It’s not that their body is tired. It’s not their heart is exploding. It’s that their mind is numb from the monotony.

That’s why many long distance runners have devised some helpful tools for running the long races: Vary the pace; listen to something; time your run to music; have a partner to run with, to talk to and even compete with, or focus on the finish line.

We can often get bored as we race through life. That’s because life isn’t a short sprint. It is a long marathon. And when we get bored, that’s when our sinful nature tries to find things to do to keep itself occupied and entertained. Maybe it is sharing gossip or picking on someone or even outright bullying. Maybe it is looking at things that God says are harmful or going places that God says are off-limits or doing things that God says are spiritually damning.

Abraham had a long way to go in his lifetime. He was called by God when he was 75 years old to travel from Haran to Canaan. God promised Abraham that Canaan would one day be the Promised Land for his people. God promised Abraham that he would have many children, yet he didn’t even have a son yet at that point. God promised Abraham that the Messiah, the Savior, would come from his family. Those promises would not be fulfilled until hundreds of years later.

So how did Abraham remain focused? How was he able to overcome the enticement of boredom and the temptation to keep himself occupied with all kinds of sinful things? The writer to the Hebrews tells us: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham overcame the boredom during the long race of life by always looking forward to the city of God that would be his one day. He kept his mind on the salvation that would be his through his promised heir, the Savior, Jesus Christ. Abraham varied his pace. Some days were long and difficult as he rescued his nephew, Lot, from his captors or waited for his promised son to be born, while other days were more simple and normal. He walked through this journey with fellow partners in the faith – Abraham lived until his son, Isaac, was 75 and his grandson, Jacob, was 15.

Abraham had a similar faith to you and me. The journey of life is long and difficult. It can be exciting some days and it can be boring during others. But we have the benefit as Christians to have others along with us in this journey – our parents, siblings and friends. We can keep our minds occupied with the hymns and Christian songs we sing at camp, in church and in school. Though we do not see the finish line right now, we trust in God’s promises, like Abraham did.

Even though we have not yet received what God promised, we trust in God’s sure and certain Word. By faith we know that Jesus has already guaranteed our place in the city of God through His suffering, death and resurrection. By faith that we, too, are strangers and aliens on earth. This life is important, but our eternal life is far more important. And by faith we know that though times in our life now might be boring, we will have an eternity of excitement and enjoyment waiting for us in our home in heaven – just like God promises.

Questions:

What do you do when you start to get bored? Are they good things or bad things? What would be better choices?

Would you have been able to just pack up and go as Abraham did?

What keeps you motivated to keep moving forward as a Christian young person?

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, maintain and strengthen our faith in you and your promises. When doubts and fears and even boredom come our way, send your Holy Spirit to drive them away with your powerful promises. Keep us living and running by faith until death. Then, bring us to what you have promised us — to the finish line, a better country, a heavenly one. Amen.