If you do a Google search for FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), you will find a plethora of definitions, articles, and blogs on this newly coined psychological conditional.  Simply put, it’s the idea that something fun or exciting or noteworthy might be happening RIGHT NOW, and you have missed out on it.  There is a whole science behind it and the internet will help you psychoanalyze the reasons why you might be struggling with this, how it can become an addiction, and tips for getting over it. 

I’d like to flip the coin on this thought, however, and shift the focus from experiencing FOMO in an unhealthy way to really and truly pondering if you might, indeed, be missing out.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been setting my alarm for an earlier hour than normal.  I’m not looking for applause.  The decision was simply made because I am desperate.  I am desperate for Jesus.  I am desperate to make Him my Number One Priority.  I am desperate to have Him consuming every single area of my life.  I am desperate to stop living by the “tyranny of the urgent.”

I just know I need more of Him.

So now my morning walk and prayer time have me encountering a whole new group of fellow walkers, folks I’ve never met before because we previously walked at different times.  We know each other only by face and a friendly, sometimes sleepy, early morning wave.  One guy in particular is exceptionally cheerful for such early morning encounters.  He makes me not hate mornings quite so much! 

So this morning I was very tired, and slipping back into old, sloppy patterns, I pushed my snooze button for half an hour before rolling out of bed.  Kicking myself, I hurriedly pulled on my sneakers and headed out the door.

Sure enough, I passed Exceptionally Friendly Guy, who said hello and then followed it up by saying, “You missed out this morning.”  And he began to tell me how he had seen a doe and her twin fawns a bit earlier that morning.  He was over-the-top excited about it and sad for me that I had missed it!  We told each other to have a nice day and then went our separate directions.

But his comment has been messing with me ever since.  “You missed out.”  Because here’s the thing: we are so focused on missing out on things that are not important, but haven’t seemed to develop an equal fear of missing out on the things that really matter.

What else have I missed out on by pushing the snooze?

Because sometimes we just get tired.  Complacent.  Overwhelmed.  Weary.  It happens to all of us at some point, and when it does, we push the proverbial snooze in an effort to delay giving our attention and effort to the thing that most needs us to be awake and present.

Have you pushed the snooze on your marriage because it feels like so much work to try to improve it, mend it, enjoy it?

Have you pushed the snooze on pursuing your dream … starting a business, writing a book, taking voice lessons … because it seems like such a long way from Point A to Point B, and who’s to say you even have the talent?

Have you pushed the snooze on caring for your body, eating well, exercising, pursuing a healthy weight, getting more sleep, because you feel like a failure before you even start, it takes so long to see any kind of change, and who has that kind of time, anyway?

Have you pushed the snooze on being intentional in your relationships, pursuing friendships, inviting people to your home or out for coffee, because people might require more than you can give?  Because they might disappoint you or you might disappoint them?

Have you pushed the snooze on God because you’ve convinced yourself there’s plenty of time to get serious about your faith, to read your Bible, to sign up for a Life Group, to talk to your friend about Jesus?

It’s time to wake up and do the things that need doing.  Yes, even the hard ones.  Even the ones that take every ounce of your time, thought and energy.  No more delays!  And you can do this, because here is the truth about you, what you were created for, and what God had in mind for you before the beginning of time.

You were made in His image (Gen. 1:27). 

You were created to do good works (Eph. 2:10). 

You have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). 

You have everything you need (1 Peter 1:3).

You are more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37).

So no more excuses, okay?  The thing that you’ve been pushing off is the very place where God wants to show up and show off and show you what you are capable of, not because of who you are, but because of who He is.

Stop hitting the snooze … because you don’t want to miss out!