Are you bored 👀

The importance of Boredom

Just finished reading Exodus and whew… what a book!
It’s giving drama, divine instruction, wild rebellion, and honestly, deep life lessons for us today.

One part that really hit me? The story of the golden calf. You know it. Moses goes up the mountain to be with God, and before he can even come back, the Israelites have melted their jewelry, built a golden cow, and started worshipping it like it saved them. What?!

Let’s talk about what I learnt & observed.

1. The Importance of Boredom and Delay

Exodus 32 is where the story happens. Moses is on Mount Sinai, getting divine instructions from God on how the people should worship Him, detailed, specific instructions. Why? Because God is holy, and worshipping Him requires reverence, not vibes. This wasn’t just "build Me a little altar and let’s be cool", this was sacred architecture, priestly garments, rituals of atonement, everything (see Exodus 25–31). God was setting a foundation for relationship and worship.

But while Moses was up there, the people got tired of waiting.

“When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us.’” — Exodus 32:1

Boredom and delay let sin into their lives.

You have to visualize this, God was literally raining food from heaven for them. Like my pastor would say daily delivery of Chowdeck. They had provision, protection, presence but, because they weren’t “doing” anything, because they were in a season of stillness and rest, they got restless. These were people used to constant toil in Egypt. Wake, brick, sleep, repeat. Now they had manna and shade, and instead of seeing it as grace, they got… bored.

And in their boredom, they made a god for themselves. Not just any god, a golden calf they credited with their freedom:

“Then they said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” — Exodus 32:4

Pause. They changed the truth of who God is, just because of a delay.

How many of us do the same?

Let’s Be Real 👀Boredom Can Be a Gateway to Sin

Let’s not pretend. Boredom is a major trigger for sin.
Because I’m bored, I text my toxic ex.
Because I’m bored, I spiral into 5 hours of TikTok.
Because I’m bored, I gossip or overeat or watch something I shouldn’t.
And that’s not to shame you, it’s to say: we’ve all been the Israelites.

Instead of pressing into that quiet, asking God “what are You saying?”, we rush to fill the silence with noise, golden calves made of distraction.

But what if boredom is a signal that our spirit needs feeding?
What if delay is an invitation to trust deeper?

Instead of reaching for that next dopamine hit when you are bored why not reach for the word.

I know reading the Bible can be boring sometimes 🫣but, be honest with God about that. Tell Him. Say, “Lord, I don’t feel like reading today. It feels dry.” He can handle that. And trust me, the Holy Spirit will meet you there.

Also… if you're looking for drama to keep your Bible time spicy? Try Judges. That book? Unhinged in the best way. 10/10. Better than any Netflix plot.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” — Psalm 27:14

2. Knowing God, Not Just His Miracles

This part cut me deep. In Exodus 19, God tells Moses He wants to speak to the whole nation. He wanted them all to hear His voice, know His holiness, understand the covenant. But what did the people say?

“You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” — Exodus 20:19

They didn’t want closeness. They wanted a middleman. They wanted miracles without relationship.
And when Moses wasn’t immediately available? They built something fake to give them the illusion of “god” without the weight of holiness.

Whew.

It’s wild because in Exodus 13:21, it was the true God who first said He would go before them:

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud… and by night in a pillar of fire.”

So when they said in Exodus 32:1, “Make us a god who will go before us,” they were replacing the real God with something shinier, easier, and more convenient.

Let’s not be those people. Don’t exchange the truth of God for a golden image of your own making.

3. When You’re Blessed, Don’t Sabotage It

Another thing that stood out: how the Israelites didn’t know what to do with rest and abundance. They were so used to scarcity and slavery that when God gave them free provision, they didn’t trust it.

So they created activity to feel like they were “doing” something, but that activity led to sin.

Sometimes, the blessing of God will look like quiet. Like peace. Like space.
Learn to rest in it.
Don’t sabotage it because it feels unfamiliar.

“The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” — Proverbs 10:22

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Three Things to Take Away

1. Wait on the Lord
   Don’t build idols in the boredom. Wait well. Talk to God. Feed your spirit, even if it feels “dry” at first. There’s water in the Word, I promise.
   (Isaiah 40:31)

2. Know God, not just His blessings
   Don’t chase miracles and forget the Miracle Worker. He wants fellowship, not fans. Ask to know His character not just His hand.
   (Philippians 3:10)

3. Trust the blessing
   Don’t self-sabotage in seasons of rest. Trust that God is providing, not because of what you’ve done but because of who He is. Lean into His rhythm.
   (Hebrews 4:9-11)

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Discussion Corner

(You already know I’m rooting for Moses — this man saw the glory of God and had to deal with these people every day. Patience award of the century.)

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Currently Listening 🎧

I recently listened to this amazing podcast episode on prayer and fasting.

Main takeaway: We’re not sufficient, that’s okay because God is.
The Lord’s Prayer says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” That word daily is so intentional. God wants us to rely on Him every single day.

Listen here:

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With love always,
April 🌸

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