Profoundness of Procrastination

By Shavia Johnson

What is Procrastination?

Have you ever really taken the time to investigate procrastination? Where does it come from? Perhaps, you never thought about the why and just accepted procrastination as the way you are or have always been. Maybe, you thought about the why and cannot seem to comprehend it beyond what you see and know on the surface of your behavior with a desire to stop procrastinating. I can tell you for sure that you must get to the root of your procrastination to change its fruit.

Procrastination can be more than just lazy; it is a noun; it is a state of being, defined as “the act or habit of procrastinating or putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention.” According to this definition, there is hope for all who procrastinate. Procrastination is a state of being, meaning you can change it if you dig deeper internally to transform your knowledge and perception of it.

Did you know that procrastination is a form of fear? The manifestation of such fear can look different from person to person. For example, one person may fear failure, while another may fear success, which causes procrastinating behavior.

Furthermore, procrastination can manifest through childhood trauma or complex traumas throughout one’s life. When we experience trauma at an early age, we are not mentally, emotionally, or spiritually equipped to address or process it, birthing fear that manifests in many ways, including procrastination.

Procrastination can be a coping mechanism. Sometimes we procrastinate with addressing the issue or completing a task because it produces discomfort, so instead, we engage something else that feels good at the time and only for a little while.

Triumphant over Procrastination!

When addressing procrastination, you will need to identify, acknowledge, and destroy your why for procrastinating. Then begin to combat procrastination with preparation. One of the most significant benefits of preparation is intimacy with God. As you seek His will and strategy for inner healing and deliverance from the stronghold of procrastination.

Father God is a God of order, and He has never just done something without first thoroughness of thought and preparation. Your life is a perfect example of that. He thought about you, seen you, knew you and your whole life before you ever physically entered the earth.

God is so strategic that even when we are in sin, hurting, or going through a challenging time, He built us to be resilient with our lives until we can come to knowledge or revelation of Him through salvation, His Holy Spirit, intimacy with Him, and studying His word.

Any time we are disconnected from Father God, we find ways to cope. We rely on ourselves instead of casting our cares upon Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us according to God’s standards and prophetic purposes for our lives. Father God did not create or purpose us to remain coping with life, depending on ourselves, but to live a lifestyle that stems from our identity, mindset, and behaviors rooted in faith and obedience to God. Therefore, by trusting and believing in Father God for our complete healing, we can move forward because we know that His way of healing yields lasting results.

Spiritual Personal Protective Equipment

There are 3 Spiritual PPE’s (Personal Protective Equipment) to get you started with eradicating procrastination:

• Prayer – In prayer, you will find the root of your procrastination and the remedy to transform your mindset. Once you discover the core, you acknowledge, renounce, and replace it with God’s Truth (cure). Prayer is also where you obtain instruction for addressing procrastination in every area of your life.
• Plan – After receiving instructions for moving forward, you begin to prepare for execution. This stage also includes removing the things that bring you comfort when confronting an issue or completing a task.
• Execute – Freedom from procrastination is a continual process of intentional effort and consistent execution that include spending intimate time with God, replacing lies with God’s Truth, and making a conscious decision to honor God with your decisions concerning the things He has placed inside of you and the purpose you are to fulfill.

Stay Encouraged!

Once you begin to understand why you procrastinate, how procrastination shows up with you, and how you deal with it, it is easier to shed the unhealthy habits you have been practicing. The process also equips you to recognize your triggers. For example, I was able to identify that when I take on too many tasks at once or future commitments without consulting God, I would get overwhelmed and shut down. I would not touch anything regarding the event or course of action until the last possible moment. Such behavior can cause you to take on tasks that were never meant for you and miss opportunities that God may have been trying to heal, develop, or show you. When you prepare and are intentional about your relationship with God, your time, your purpose, you flow freely in the spirit of the Lord, thus overcoming procrastination.

Shavia Johnson is a woman of God, Author, Speaker, Youth Advocate, Restoration Empowerment Coach, and Founder of More than Enough Ministries. She is driven by the desire to see our youth healed and delivered from the effects of pain suppression caused by unresolved childhood trauma. She helps adolescents navigate the healing process, helping them identify and break down barriers that hold them captive to toxic cycles of bondage.

Contact Shavia: johnsonshavia@yahoo.com