I had a math teacher who spoke in a monotone. His voice was as boring as the numbers he wrote on the chalkboard. As I drifted in and out of consciousness, my notes would often morph into unintelligible scribbles. Monotony is boring! I don’t function well when life gets monotonous. Does that describe your life? Repetitive and predictable? Monotony describes my alarm clock when it blares at me every day. It describes my predictable breakfast of cereal and milk. It describes the same old route I take to work day after day after day after day…
If only life were more exciting. If only there were thrilling surprises around every corner. If only I loved to wake up every day!
Sometimes monotony describes my spiritual life as well. I monotonously get upset every time I don’t get what I want. I monotonously get frustrated when I’m stressed. I monotonously get angry when I’m annoyed. Most of us tend to get spiritually monotonous. We get stuck in routine life and so we get stuck in routine godlessness.
God wrote a letter once to some Israelites who were physically and spiritually stuck in a land of foreigners. They wanted to go home but had no control over the situation. They were tired of being stuck. So in Jeremiah 29 God encourages these people to have a different perspective by searching, waiting, and working.
Searching
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
Spiritual monotony must be adressed first before physical monotony. Your spiritual habits directly affect the way you respond to your surroundings. Have you set daily goals that will help you learn about God and identify sin in your life? Your spiritual habits directly affect the way you respond to your surroundings.
Waiting
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29: 11
God has an epic future in store for his people. His promises will be fulfilled and all wrongs will be made right. No Christian has to be patient forever. Have you thanked God for his promises recently?
Working
“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.” Jeremiah 29:5
Be productive while you wait! Expect God to do great things no matter where you are stuck. Have you set daily goals that will keep you busy pleasing God?
The problem is not physical monotony. That’s only a symptom. The problem is spiritual monotony. Read Jeremiah 29 today and ask God to help you grow in your love for him no matter where you are stuck!