After a spontaneous dinner out with one of our kids yesterday evening, I returned home to a text message from our neighbor. She was still rattled, texting that “two giant explosions!” in the past hour had been so loud, she thought their house was exploding. Curious, I asked for details. Turns out, a few restless kids had repurposed volleyballs with the help of homemade explosives. I had to laugh, despite myself — I thought I’d heard of every prank under the sun. But exploding volleyballs? That’s next-level mischief.
As wild as it sounds, the whole thing got me thinking: Even as adults, we get bored. And when we find ourselves in that state, we either migrate toward something meaningful… or something regrettable.
King David found himself in a similar place, though with far weightier consequences. Scripture tells us in 2 Samuel 11that David stayed behind in Jerusalem “at the time when kings go out to battle.” He wasn’t fulfilling his duties or correctly representing his kingdom— maybe tired, maybe distracted, or perhaps just enjoying a break. But that restlessness led him to the rooftop, where he saw Bathsheba bathing. One glance sparked desire… and one desire triggered a tragic fall. That led to an underhanded scheme to kill Bathsheba’s husband. From adultery to deception to orchestrated murder, David’s restless rooftop stroll blew up into a spiritual disaster.
And it all started with boredom–something we can all relate to.
So what’s the lesson here? The quiet, unstructured moments matter — perhaps more than we realize. Left unchecked, boredom can become a breeding ground for mischief, temptation, or avoidance. But it doesn’t have to be.
Here are some purposeful ways to redeem the quiet spaces. (The credit for the first list below goes to Barry Bennett, a wise Bible teacher from Charis Bible College.)
Spiritually focused options:
Praise God — even aloud!
Give thanks for small and big blessing–verbally or in your journal.
Bless or encourage someone.
Forgive someone who may never ask for it.
Declare God’s promises over your life.
Give time, money, or service where it’s needed.
Practically purposeful options:
Read something that feeds your soul or mind.
Walk outside and soak in creation.
Clean something you’ve been avoiding.
Laugh — even corny jokes count.
Play a game or tackle a jigsaw puzzle.
Nap if your body needs restoration.
We each choose how to spend our free time, which could last for hours on a weekend or all of ten minutes on a weekday afternoon. And whether it’s a rooftop stroll or a backyard explosion, each moment holds power. Let’s spend those moments with intention — building up instead of tearing down.
