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by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea

I’m great at gift wrapping. I know this because I’ve discovered that with a good pair of scissors, I can make a totally passable run at it in the car. Three minutes after the party started. I guess I’ve discovered as well that I’m also good at procrastination. Thus, car-scissors became a thing. 

I first bought the cheapety-cheapest scissors for the car. After all, how often would I really need them? Turns out I underestimated my capacity for wrap procrastination. Wrap-crastination? I also underestimated how bad car-wrapping with dull scissors could turn out. I once had to take a baby gift into church that looked like it had been wrapped by an actual baby. Maybe a baby badger.

Just to be clear, I may be car-wrapping but I never wrap and drive. That would be an accident waiting to happen. Or maybe not waiting. Just happening.

An On-Purpose Waiting to Happen by @RhondaRhea on @BRMCWC #Writinglife #BRMCWC #Writing Share on X

It makes me think, though, of “on purposes” waiting to happen. Have you ever felt a nudge from God to do something that felt overwhelming? Or underwhelming even—like aspects of it seemed they might be dull? (Dull like cheap scissors?) Maybe it feels too soon to try that thing. Or too late. Or just too scary.

There’ve been times I’ve been excited about a task and still put it off. True, I may not be the sharpest scissors in the glovebox, but I confess, occasionally I battle plain ol’ laziness-infused procrastination, when the starting is harder than the doing. Maybe I need to be badgered into it?

I don’t want to drain my life of purpose, fruitfulness, or satisfaction by too much waiting or scrolling or whatever—not by any kind of slacking. How self-sabotaging is putting off my purpose? “The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied” (Proverbs 13:4 CSB).

There are times in all our lives when procrastinating is not so much a laziness issue, not even a matter of feeling overwhelmed, but it’s more about fear. Fear doesn’t have to be paralyzing. As a matter of fact, fear can move us to depend on Jesus all the more. It’s a reminder we can’t accomplish any good purpose on our own. When we run to Him, we become deeply aware of His presence. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 CSB). The Amplified Bible expands on it like this: “I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].” Could anything stop us when we’re held by His certain, mighty hand of justice, power, victory—salvation? What’s to fear?

It’s been said that procrastination is the thief of time. Lord, grant me courage. Empower me to thwart that thief, never giving opportunity for the stealing away of my purpose, fruitfulness, or satisfaction. May I honor You with every minute You give me.

As we honor Him, we get to wear God-powered purpose as a holy badge of honor—all glory, His. What a gift. Perfectly wrapped.

By the way, that’s a badge of honor. Badge. Not badger.

Rhonda Rhea is an award-winning humor columnist for great magazines such as HomeLife, Leading Hearts, The Pathway, and many more. She is the author of 19 books, including the popular romantic comedies co-authored with her daughter Kaley Rhea, Off-Script & Over-Caffeinated and Turtles in the Road. Rhonda and Kaley have also teamed up with Bridges TV host Monica Schmelter for the Messy to Meaningful books and TV projects. Along with Beth Duewel, Rhonda writes the Fix Her Upper series, and she also co-authored Unruffled: Thriving in Chaos with Edie Melson. She speaks at conferences and events from coast to coast, serves on many boards and committees, and stays busy as a publishing consultant. Rhonda says you can find her living near St. Louis drinking too much coffee and snort-laughing with her pastor/husband, five grown children, and a growing collection of the most exceptional grandbabies.