Summer Slumps, Spiritual Growth, and Quieting the Noise

As educators, we often find ourselves in a unique position during the summer months. With the structure and routine of the school year temporarily on hold, it can be all too easy to let our spiritual disciplines slip. The temptation to coast, indulge in comfort and leisure, and neglect our time with God is strong. But this "spiritual laziness" can have detrimental effects, leaving us depleted and ill-prepared to tackle the new school year with purpose and passion.

In a recent episode of the Gospel and Gradebooks podcast, co-hosts Timm and Jamie openly shared their own struggles with this summer slump. They identified several warning signs of spiritual laziness, including:

• A reactive rather than proactive prayer life
• Letting the Bible collect dust, only opening it on Sundays
• Prioritizing comfort, leisure, and entertainment over time in the Word
• Becoming less intentional about connecting with other believers
• Coasting in our service and commitment to the Lord

As Timm vulnerably admitted, "I have guilted myself into turning somewhat over of a new leaf or a better leaf or improved leaf, if you will." He shared how he's been intentional about getting up early, spending time in Scripture and prayer, even if it's just 15 minutes. His wife's example and accountability have been instrumental in helping him stay the course.

Jamie echoed these sentiments, recognizing the importance of having that external motivation and accountability, especially during the unstructured summer months. "We get in these seasons where for any excuse, and that's what they are, we start letting this, you know, slip off to the side," he lamented.

To combat this spiritual slump, Timm and Jamie offered several practical tips and strategies:

• Start your day with Scripture and prayer. Before the chaos of the day sets in, dedicate 10-15 minutes to diving into God's Word and lifting up your heart to Him.
• Anchor a weekly rhythm. Make sure you're faithfully attending church, Sunday school, and connecting with fellow believers.
• Have a summer Scripture plan. Choose a short book like James or Philippians and read through it weekly.
• Find an accountability partner. Enlist a friend, colleague, or spouse to check in on your spiritual disciplines and encourage you.
• Leverage your phone strategically. Use it as a tool for staying spiritually engaged, not just mindless scrolling. Listen to podcasts, sermons, or worship music.

As the guys emphasized, it's crucial that we're intentional about guarding our hearts and minds during this season. "What you're taking in is going to reflect what you're putting out," Jamie warned. "Be cautious of what you're taking in because what you're taking in is going to reflect what you're putting out."

To further unpack the importance of pursuing wisdom and spiritual growth, Timm and Jamie dove into Proverbs chapters 3 and 4. They highlighted several key insights from this rich, time-tested wisdom literature:

In Proverbs 3:5-6, the wise teacher exhorts, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." As Jamie pointed out, this oft-quoted passage calls us to a "healthy reverence" for the Lord, not a fearful one. When we put our full trust in God, He will provide and guide us, even when our own understanding falls short.

Proverbs makes it clear that the heart is the wellspring of our actions and attitudes. "The reason people behave badly is it goes back largely because of their hearts," Timm observed. Quoting Proverbs 4:23, he emphasized the need to "Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." What we allow to fill our hearts—whether it's godly wisdom or worldly influences—will inevitably shape our output and decisions.

In Proverbs 3:18, the teacher describes wisdom as "a tree of life to those who take hold of her." This powerful imagery harkens back to the Garden of Eden, where the tree of life granted immortality. As Jamie explained, "Proverbs reveals the path back to life, which is wisdom. But only in Christ, who is the wisdom of God, does that path become a reality for finite humans." By humbly submitting to God's wisdom, we can regain what was lost in the fall.

Proverbs 4:18-19 paints a vivid contrast between the path of the righteous and the way of the wicked: "The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." Timm shared a personal anecdote about struggling with his lawnmower in the dark, a metaphor for the disorientation and danger of walking in spiritual darkness.

As Timm and Jamie wrapped up their discussion, they issued a challenge to their listeners:

"What's one voice or habit or influence that you know you need to silence this week in order to more fully pursue wisdom?"

For Timm, it was the pull of social media, acknowledging how easy it is to get sucked into endless scrolling and comparison. Jamie, on the other hand, recognized a need to be "slow to anger, quick to forgive, and intentional" with his relationships and reactions.

The guys encouraged their audience to identify that one thing—whether it's a person, a habit, or an influence—that is hindering their spiritual growth. And they urged listeners to not only recognize it, but to take action to "silence the noise" and refocus their hearts on pursuing God's wisdom.

As the Gospel and Gradebooks podcast approaches its one-year mark, Timm and Jamie expressed their gratitude for each listener. They emphasized the importance of sharing the episode, commenting, and engaging with the content in order to encourage one another on the journey. After all, as they said, "We are, you know, we're coming up close to one year. This is, I think, episode 33 or 34. I could be wrong. Um, you know, we're we're getting close to that one year mark. We've been going at this for for a lot longer than I think either one of us thought we would, but we're still enjoying it. And as long as there's one person who listens each week and and finds joy or encouragement from what we say and we'll keep doing it."

So, as you head into the rest of your summer, we encourage you to heed the wisdom of Proverbs, combat spiritual laziness, and silence the voices that distract you from the one true source of life-giving wisdom—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Be intentional, be accountable, and be blessed as you pursue Him with all your heart.