Created to Play: How Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually

by Brianna Lambert

What If You Saw Your Hobbies as a Form of Worship? Maybe you're an athlete or collector, a chef or film critic, a painter or video gamer. Your hobbies aren't arbitrary passions. The same God who formed your muscles and nervous system also formed the specific ways you love to play. He understands the delight you feel in your garden or your excitement as you open up a new board game. And he calls it good. We often view play as a distraction from life's serious responsibilities, but in Created to Play, Brianna Lambert reveals the ways God blesses your hobbies and uses them to form and pull you into worship. Lambert explores ten different titles you may inhabit in your Beholder, Curator, Maker, Herald, Restorer, Connecter, Nourisher, Mover, Caretaker, and Historian. This book helps you view your hobbies as opportunities not just for individual expression but also for communal enjoyment. With winsome practicality and theological reflection, Lambert draws you to glory in the God who loves and teaches you through play. With Created to Play, you Explore how hobbies shape your spiritual formation, offering a fresh perspective on the theology of hobbies and leisure. Identify yourself among ten unique roles we take on through hobbies, uncovering how play shapes your identity in Christ. Learn to embrace rest and joy through hobbies, reenvisioning leisure as life-giving rather than wasteful. Challenge your guilt around play by learning how hobbies can form you spiritually, draw you into worship, and help you reflect God's character. You can experience how God is already participating in your hobbies with you, sharing in the joy they bring. If you are seeking a biblical perspective on your hobbies or struggling to enjoy leisure amid the demands of a busy life, this book can help you reclaim play as a vital part of spiritual formation. Play isn't about what you get or achieve but about who you become in the process.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Theology

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2026

About the author

Brianna Lambert is a writer and author from a rural community outside Indianapolis. Her articles and essays have appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Common Good, Mere Orthodoxy, and elsewhere. Brianna also serves on staff at Gospel-Centered Discipleship and in the women’s ministry at her local church. You might find her backpacking, camping, waterskiing, or starting a brand-new hobby with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[Paola Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a FUN *and* insightful read! You feel engaged from the start and also encouraged. My takeaway is that we are “Created to Play” as part of our calling, it’s embedded in our spiritual and emotional DNA. Taking that in was liberating, life-giving and joy filled.

We often take for granted or dismiss altogether whatever particular inclinations we may have to say paint, hike, bake, or sing, for example. I know I have. One of the most helpful things for me personally is how Lambert names the ways we play. I love how the author deftly names these proclivities, these “hidden titles”.

And as well she should. Because when we do those things that entice our curiosity and enthrall us, we are indeed “Makers”, “Nourishers”, “Curators”, “Keepers “, and my personal favourite “Heralds”. There are more. Each of these encompasses an array of fun things we do for play. She also names the deep joy in each and the key temptation. You’ll need to read the book to learn more. And I really hope you will, it’s a gem of a read. 💯 recommended !

[Jordan Swails]

Incredibly well done by one who lives out what she proclaims! This reminder to let go of expectations, set aside perfectionism, and lean into the joy of play — all through the broad and specific lens of Scripture — was exactly what I needed. Grateful to know you, Brianna!

[Ashlee Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Created to Play, Lambert reveals the ways God blesses our hobbies and uses them to form us and draw us into worship, helping us view our hobbies as opportunities not just for individual expression but also for communal enjoyment, theological reflection, and marveling at the glory of God. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and will very likely revisit it often.

[Abbie Haak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite read of 2026 so far🤩

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while, I read a book that is totally different than anything I've ever read before. In Created to Play, author Brianna Lambert offers a unique and much-needed corrective in how we think about leisure and hobbies, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Lambert encourages Christian readers to see play as part of a flourishing life, rather than a guilt-inducing distraction or simply a means to an end. She gives examples of many different ways that hobbies can enrich our lives, showing that they are part of enjoying God's creation and bringing glory to Him. 

The chapters throughout this book focus on different groups of hobbies. For example, in the chapter about "the heralds," Lambert focuses on hobbies that involve declaring goodness and beauty to others, such as writing, singing, taking photos, and book reviewing. (I loved the unexpected shout-out to book reviewing, of course!) Other chapters are about themes like nourishing people, making things, restoring objects, and curating history. Even though some hobbies fall into multiple categories, the author did a great job of thinking through how to organize them, exploring the spiritual significance of each variety of hobby. No matter how niche or unusual someone's favorite hobby is, it will fit into one of these categories.

In each chapter, Lambert reflects on the spiritual meaning behind that type of hobby, and she describes both the "deep joy" and "key temptation" that comes along with each one. I found each chapter insightful, and this book guides readers in thinking about how what we do for fun shapes us as people and grows our character, whether we realize it or not. Lambert emphasizes that we should enjoy our hobbies as good gifts from God, rather than treating them as self-improvement exercises. Nonetheless, she shows that being playful comes with all kinds of physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.

Created to Play is a soul-stirring, joyful book, and I highly recommend it. Regardless what you like to do with your free time, this book has wisdom and encouragement for you. Also, don't skip any of the chapters! Even when a topic didn't appear relevant to my interests, I still found some of the bigger ideas helpful for different aspects of my hobbies and life experience. Everything about this book was a blessing to me, and I highly recommend it.

I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Michael Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Created To Play" is a great read for anyone wanting to use their hobby/hobbies for God's glory. The author's underlying principle in the book is: when enjoying a hobby, you enjoy God's presence and benefit other people for God's glory.

Other great points made in the book include:

1. A hobby reminds us that life isn't always about productivity and constant work.
2. We can often believe the lie that play is a distraction from the work we do in life.
3. God quietly uses our passions to mold us into the people He wants us to be.
4. Using your hobby is good for self-care and can help us better serve other people.
5. God wants us to experience life on earth with great joy for His glory.

After making the above points in the book's opening chapter, the author then spends the rest of the book describing the 10 main types of hobbyists, description of the different areas of interest the hobbyist may have, strengths and potential weakness a person can have in the particular area of hobby, and other pertinent information.

There are many things I liked about the title:

- Easy to read and understand.
- Practical suggestions for improving the area of interest.
- Good footnotes section for further reading and study.

Great read and recommended. I was given a review copy by IVP in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.

[Lianna Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many highlights in this one! I found this book increased the personal value I place on how I spend my time. As a stay-at-home mom to a daughter in private school, I have a fair amount of free time during the school year especially. Much of my time is spent in what the author calls being a “Beholder”—I just love reading and beholding books.

I appreciated the dignity the author gives to how we choose to spend our free time, through the careful and artful way she describes her categories of hobbies. She offers the following categories:
• Maker
• Herald
• Nourisher
• Mover
• Keeper
• Curator
• Restorer
• Connector
• Historian
• Beholder

I’ll let you discover the nuances of each category in the book itself.

Overall, this was a thoughtful and surprisingly affirming read that made me more attentive to the goodness in ordinary ways of spending time.

[Brittany Lee Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brianna's writing in this book is poetic and captivating, but most of all, it points readers to the beauty of Christ. Created to Play leaves you excited to bask in the joy of the gift of hobbies while also keeping your gaze fixed on your Creator. Such a refreshing read!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and encouraging. I really enjoyed reading this book!