“Are We Addicted to Distraction?”

What if distraction isn’t really the problem?

What if the noise, the scrolling, the constant need for stimulation is actually covering something deeper?

In this episode of Bible, Basically, we wrestle with the uncomfortable question: What are we running from? Because sometimes we don’t run with our feet — we run with busyness, entertainment, noise, and endless distraction. Anything that keeps us from sitting still long enough to confront what’s happening underneath.

Walking through Scripture, we explore why silence feels so uncomfortable, how distraction can quietly shape our hearts, and why stillness is often where God begins to expose, heal, and redirect us.

Because maybe the issue isn’t just that we’re distracted.

Maybe distraction became the hiding place.

Bible, Basically — figuring out faith, together.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Hey everybody. Welcome back to Bible Basically, where we are figuring out faith together. Today we're going to get into a little different type of subject. It's not overly heavy. It's not already, I don't know. It might head in that direction, but I don't have plans to right now. But sometimes some of those stories just come out of nowhere. But it is something that I think plagues a lot of people today. And I know it plagues several people in my life and me. So that's why I wanted to talk about it. And it is are we addicted to distraction?

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Are we addicted to distraction?

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Think about it this way. We collectively as a society, we don't know how to be still anymore. Every single quiet moment gets filled instantly, whether it be by a notification, a scroll, a video, a headline, or even background noise we didn't even ask for. In fact, it's probably to the point where maybe even it feels normal now. But what if it's changing us more than we realize? Because distraction doesn't always look destructive. Sometimes it just looks constant. And eventually you start wondering why is it so hard to focus? Why does silence feel uncomfortable? Why do I feel mentally exhausted all the time? I wonder if if maybe the problem isn't just that we're distracted, but I wonder if we've actually become addicted to it. Psalms forty six ten says very simply be still and know that I am God. To me, I breathe in that verse, and I feel like I let out a sigh of relief. Because that verse sounds very peaceful until we actually try to do it. Because stillness exposes things. I don't know about you guys, but the moment I sit with my thoughts, the stillness exposes those thoughts. Thoughts like anxiety and restlessness and loneliness and sadness, uncertainty. And so we distract ourselves to basically avoid ourselves. We don't want to think. We don't want to be anxious. We don't want to be restless. We don't want to be lonely. I mean, those are natural feelings. We don't want any of that. But instead of turning to what we should turn to, we turn to social media and music, or I hate to say it, podcasts, or television, or basically anything but either what we really have to think about, or a much healthier place to place our burdens.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

Luke ten, forty-one and forty-two.

SPEAKER_00 4:22

Jesus was talking to Martha, and he said in verse forty one, but the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary.

SPEAKER_01 4:45

Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

Martha and Mary were two very different individuals. And Martha always, in this especially, it's evident. She was pulled in many different directions. And Mary decided to focus on one thing. And I'm sure you can guess what that one thing was. It's Jesus. Martha wasn't doing anything wrong inherently or evil. She was just pulled in too many different directions. And that is modern life. We have too much input, too much noise, too many things competing for our attention. I don't know how many times I have thought, and I know I'm old. Don't remind me. I'm a sound even older. I don't know how many times I have said, man, I remember the days before we had cell phones.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

When if you weren't home, they couldn't get a hold of you.

SPEAKER_00 6:20

They definitely have their place. But they provide so much noise in our lives. And it's not just that. Like I said, it's television, it's this, it's that. There's a billion different things that are constantly fighting over our attention. And we really should be focused on good things. We should think about good things. Philippians 4 8 says, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

You have to think what you feed grows.

SPEAKER_00 7:28

If you are constantly feeding this need for distraction, it is just going to get addictive and unbearable. I am guilty of this a million percent. I can barely leave my cell phone in another room.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

I know.

SPEAKER_00 7:56

Way over half of you feel the same way. I'd wager close to 90% of you feel the same way. So basically, four people. But still, the more you feed the beast, the more it grows. Your mind becomes shaped by what constantly enters it. And most of us are feeding ourselves outrage and comparison and noise and fear and endless consumption. And then wondering why we feel anxious and disconnected. We talked about this a little bit a couple weeks ago. We have so many things in our face that are negative. And we talked about what we should focus on.

SPEAKER_01 8:55

And this plays into that.

SPEAKER_00 9:05

Once again, what is true, honorable, just, if there's excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, we need to focus on these things.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

Why do we reach for distraction? We touched on that a little bit in the beginning. And I want you to ask yourself that. Why do I reach for distraction?

SPEAKER_00 9:44

For some of you, distraction is entertainment. For some of you, it's escape. You're escaping that silence because silence forces us to confront insecurity, fear, grief, emptiness, spiritual distance, if you're cognizant of it.

SPEAKER_01 10:09

And distraction numbs.

SPEAKER_00 10:19

After a long day at work, I you can laugh all you want. I will sit and watch cartoons. Whether it be anime or old 80s cartoons that I can find. Something literally mind numbing. Because that's what distraction does for us. It numbs. Distraction numbs. But the more I think about that behavior, the more I need to turn away from those things and focus on maybe I should pick up my Bible. Maybe that's a great time after a long day. Crack that bad boy open and read a chapter.

SPEAKER_01 11:18

Because, like I said, distraction numbs, but it also disconnects.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

Excuse me, Psalms 139, verse 23 and 24 says, Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Search me and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. You are inviting God to analyze you and open your heart to anything you find wanting. And that prayer requires stillness that we don't get if we are numb, if we are disconnected. And I want to take this second, and I want to tell you, I am not telling you to throw your phone away. Phones do good things. But you have to learn what deserves your attention and what doesn't. Matthew 6, 21 says, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Because your attention reveals affection. And whatever constantly holds your focus will eventually shape your heart. Maybe the problem isn't necessarily that God stopped speaking to us. Maybe we just stop being still long enough to hear him. Because think about it, noise fills every empty space now. And after a while, we forget what quiet, real quiet, even looks like. But somewhere underneath all the distractions, all the scrolling, all the constant input, your soul is still looking for rest. Not more noise, not more stimulation, but rest. And maybe the first step towards hearing God again is finally learning how to be still.

SPEAKER_01 14:42

I hope this touched you.

SPEAKER_00 14:46

I hope it hit home. If you know somebody who could listen to this and benefit from it, share the link. Leave us a review. Leave us a comment.

SPEAKER_01 15:02

I say us. It's just me.

SPEAKER_00 15:11

For me, it's not about numbers, but if you know somebody that this can help, I do want them to hear it. I do want them to hear it. Guys, God bless, and I will see you all next week. Thank you for listening. It's been Bible Basically, once again, where we are figuring out faith together.