Procrastination. Am I the only one who struggles with this? I blame the Poetry Project. Yes, the Poetry Project of junior high. Something about that project set me off. I didn’t always procrastinate. I was a straight-A student, who diligently finished homework on time and studied for tests. I was always prepared. But that Poetry Project…
Jr. High Poetry!
I don’t know what it was, but I couldn’t start it. It didn’t make sense to me. I couldn’t see the whole picture or grasp the whole scope. I finally told my mom and the night before it was due, my mom, her friend and I all worked together to gather the poems I needed. We got it done and I was just glad it was over. Then I went back to my usual over-achieving ways.
The Procrastination Button
Unfortunately, from time to time that procrastination button gets pushed. I still can’t tell you precisely what sets it off. Something about not seeing the whole picture or grasping the whole scope…something about not being exactly sure what to do (not that I’m a perfectionist or anything!) and feeling some element out of my control (I’m not controlling either! Ha, ha!) I find myself putting off that big project until…later. Much later.
Behind the “Putting Off”: FEAR
I recently delayed, deferred and otherwise put off doing something I needed to do and even wanted to do, so I’ve been thinking about this procrastination issue. I believe the bottom line is some kind of fear.
Fear of failure. Fear of success. (Seriously, success changes everything.) Fear of less than perfect. Fear of all that is out of my control.
That’s probably why II Timothy 1:7 is one of my favorite verses. Sometimes I quote it out loud to myself, more than once, until I break through the fear barrier. This helps me move forward.
“For God hath not given us a spirit of fear;
but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (KJV)
The NIV says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,
but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
Forward Motion Restored
When it’s fear causing the sudden lack of momentum resulting in endless procrastination, we can turn to the Lord and know He is not the one holding us back. He has given us all the power we need to move forward. His perfect love drives out all our fear (I John 4:18) and we have the clarity of mind and the self-discipline we need to see that thing through.
Hooray for God’s strength in us! We can do all things through Him!
The enemy wants us bound, but God has set us free. Let’s walk forward in power, love and mental strength.
Is there something you are putting off because of fear?