5 Ways to Grow Spiritually by Embracing Whimsy

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1. Rediscover the fun of play.

Living in this society that values work but discounts the value of play, the idea of playing more may seem like a luxury you can’t afford. But from a biblical perspective, your value has never been tied to your work productivity. From God’s perspective, you’re a beloved child, and children are meant to play. When you give yourself permission to enjoy more play in your life, you’re essentially telling God that you trust him to meet your needs, so you can take a break from working without worrying about taking a break. This is connected to God’s command to take a break from work to enjoy a Sabbath day every week. The Sabbath is a valuable time to rest for renewal and revival, and play is an important part of that process. By playing, you can discover God’s joy in fresh ways that expand your perspective. In Ecclesiastes 8:15, the teacher says: “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.”

To add more play to your life, you have to create space for whimsical activities that have no purpose other than enjoyment. You can pull out a box of crayons and draw something, just because you enjoy the creative process of doing so. Or, you can build a fort with blankets in your living room and enjoy playing there, together with your children and pets, for a while. There are countless possibilities you can imagine for enjoying more play in your life. When you play, pay attention to the freedom you feel as a result. Play reminds you that you can be free to do something you enjoy when you trust that God is caring for you well. As you allow yourself to be playful through whimsical activities, you’ll find that your confidence in God’s love for you grows. You’ll train yourself to trust God’s care for you at all times, so you can take breaks from working whenever you need to and really enjoy those breaks

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2. Develop a cheerful heart through laughter.

Whimsy is often funny, and in this fallen world that’s full of sorrow and conflict, the ability to laugh is an important act of faith. Letting yourself laugh is a way of saying that while the world’s problems are real, you have faith that God is at work in the world, solving problems whenever people trust him and cooperate with him. When you laugh, you’re expressing confidence that, because God is good and active, all will ultimately be well. Proverbs 31:25 describes a woman who is so confident that God will help her that “she can laugh at the days to come.” Even God laughs! Psalm 2:4 reveals: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs;”. By laughing whenever you encounter something whimsical that’s humorous, you can develop a cheerful heart, which is vital spiritually.

Proverbs 17:22 points out that: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” You can find whimsical humor in just about any situation if you’re looking for the silliness in your life day by day. How can you be more playful in your daily routine? Start by looking for the silly reasons to be grateful, such as something funny your son or daughter said, or something a friend or pet did that made you smile. As you develop a more cheerful heart, you’ll become more resilient, with a stronger faith.

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3. Find whimsy that God wonderfully built into creation.

God has woven whimsy into the fabric of the world he created. He made a world that reflects his creativity and sense of humor. You can enjoy that whimsy by exploring God’s wonders in nature on a regular basis. Job 37:14 urges you to: “… stop and consider God’s wonders.” Include time for nature breaks in your schedule regularly. Slow down and become a student of the everyday miracles that God has hidden in plain sight. Think about the lilies that Jesus mentions in Matthew 6:28-29. He tells you to observe how they grow: “They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” Jesus is inviting you into a state of whimsical observation.

When you take the time to really look at a flower – to notice its shape, colors, scent, and other details – you can appreciate how God built whimsy into its design. You can do the same when you pay attention to the animals God has designed – from wild animals to the pets who are part of your family. All of them reflect God’s wonderful, whimsical work. People do, as well! Think of a few of your favorite people, and the qualities you enjoy the most about them. You can pray Psalm 139:14 about yourself and the people you love: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

A fun way to notice more whimsy around you is to take a wonder walk in nature as often as you can. While you’re walking, look for specific things that inspire you because they’re creative and playful. You may discover an iridescent shine on a beetle’s back that makes you smile, or you may even laugh at the way the wind makes the trees’ leaves look like they’re clapping. When you find whimsical details you enjoy, thank God for them right then and there. The more you look for whimsy in creation, the more you can discover, and the more you can appreciate God’s creativity as a result.

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4. Use your imagination to see possibilities of God’s kingdom on earth.

Your imagination is a gift from God that can help you grow spiritually when you use it to envision the kingdom of God here on earth. It can help you pray for what you hope for the most, and to expect the best from God when he answers your prayers. Whimsy fuels your imagination by breaking the boundaries of what you think is realistic and opening you up to what’s possible with God – which is everything! In Matthew 19:26, Jesus points out that: “… all things are possible with God.” God is a whimsical designer, and he has placed that same creative spark inside of you.

Exodus 35:31-32 describes how God helps people be creative, filling them “with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills – to make artistic designs...”. God cares about the details of what you create, and he will empower you throughout your creative process. You can develop your imagination more by inviting God to show you creative ways to solve problems and to spread his love more in your life. You can also develop a closer connection to God by using your imagination to place yourself inside the stories of the Bible.

For example, when you read about Jesus calming a storm, imagine that you’re with him in the boat: imagine the salt spray on your face and the sudden, whimsical silence that followed his command for the wind and waves to be still. Whimsy allows your faith to come alive as you dream and imagine with God. Then, you’ll start to see that God’s plans for you are more adventurous than anything you could have planned for yourself. You’ll start to look forward to what God will do in your life day by day.

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5. Build community through whimsy.

Finally, whimsy is a powerful way to build community. When you enjoy whimsical experiences with someone else, you can build closer relationships. Whimsy can remind you that you’re all part of God’s family together. The Bible shows you that God’s people were often called to celebrate together with great joy. In Nehemiah 8:10, after the law was read and the people were tempted to cry in conviction, Nehemiah told them to focus on enjoying themselves together instead: “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

When you build community by enjoying whimsy with others, you all can find more joy and strength from God as his love flows between you. So, when you’re with your friends, family, and church community, look for the whimsy you all can enjoy together. Celebrate together with enthusiasm whenever possible. Help the people in your life feel seen and loved for who they are, not just for what they do. Be playful and have fun together whenever you can. In the process, you’ll all experience more of God’s joy in your lives. 

In conclusion, whimsy is seriously important for your spiritual growth. By letting yourself enjoy whimsical experiences, your walk with God can become an exciting adventure where you’re finding fun ways of discovering the wonder of God’s work around you every day. You’ll be inspired to trust God more in the process. You can develop the childlike faith that Jesus wants you to have – a faith that’s open to whatever God has to show you, but also strong and confident!

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