Spiritual Procrastination

Procrastination is when we put off something we know we should do, even when we know we will suffer as a result. It could be something as simple as not wanting to put out the garbage in the rain, then we miss the garbage truck and have to latter take it to the dump, but concerned about the cost of the dump we store it up at home and in time our house becomes a dump!
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Psychologists note a variety of reasons why people procrastinate (low self [God]-confidence, anxiety [fear]). Some have even created two general behavioural types of procrastinators: anxiety and boredom/rebellion (that is they procrastinate so they get a thrill at the last minute or rebel and don’t want to do it).[1]

We can procrastinate in coming to know and follow the Lord too, all to our harm.

Why do people spiritually procrastinate? Why do they put off going to church, trusting in the Gospel, being baptized, joining a church? Why do they put off responding to a leader, calling to encourage someone, having that difficult conversation? Why do they put off reading their Bible, praying or any number of spiritual disciplines? Why do they put off killing that known sin in their life? Why do they do these things when they know they are wrong and they know they will harm them? It comes down to faith vs. fear and pride vs. humility in some form.

God asked Cain a timeless question, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Gen 4:7) What is the spiritual reason for procrastination? The reasons may be complex but the Lord calls us to overcome them by rising to obedience in faith. How can we rule over procrastination or help others to do so?
How to fight procrastination?

• Grow in our knowledge of who God is
• Know what God has said (including the consequence)
• Turn and trust
• Trust the Lord the moment the inclination is fresh, don’t delay
• Resolve to do right before the test of circumstance.
• Learn more about what causes your procrastination
• Remember the gracious Lord not only calls but equips us by His Word and through His Spirit, yield to Him.
• Seize hold of the means of grace, including prayer. Rely on the Lord.
• Find those who will help keep you accountable

How to handle a procrastinator?
The same way the Lord deals with us, in grace and truth. We need to be gracious with procrastinators (remembering when we have and learning from this). We must be sympathetic and willing to listen for the reasons why someone might procrastinate so we can help address these. We need to seek to encourage folks to do right and offer any help we can in this regard. However, grace alone is not sufficient. We must also be truthful. We must seek to teach and spur and call and guide the procrastinator. All this is done in prayer. Truth graciously administered is the best medicine.

So let us rise to trust the Lord and walk before Him in obedience and so overcome procrastination.


[1] https://umsu.unimelb.edu.au/news/article/7797/The-Psychology-Behind-Procrastination/#:~:text=Psychologists%20have%20found%20various%20reasons,is%20emotion%20and%20mood%20regulation.