Maybe Give It a Break?

When you scroll through social media everything on your screen is what other people want you to see.  Think about it.  In addition to advertising, everyone – from companies, to organizations, to individuals – is posting things which they obviously want the public to see, and the vast majority of the time, these posts are representing themselves and their family in the best possible light.  The more views, the better.  The more likes, the better.  There is a psychological aspect to it all for sure.  Very few people allow themselves to be seen as vulnerable.  We post pictures of family with everyone smiling.  We post pictures of ourselves on vacation.  We post pictures of delicious food.  We post about the great things that we’re doing and how much fun we’re having while we do it.  It is a rare thing for someone to post a picture of herself crying or talk about the snowballing credit card debt that he’s struggling to manage, or his dysfunctional family.

As a result, we end up subconsciously comparing ourselves with the best-case scenario of other people’s lives.  Over time, this leaves us emotionally cold, feeling like something is lacking in our own lives, like we’re not living up to full-potential and maybe even feel a little jealous of other people who obviously have their lives all together.  Yes, I know that you use social media to see and communicate with friends and relatives across the country, but I have a suggestion.

How about this … take a break from social media for a minute.  Sure, you’ll still need to use your phone for talking, texting, and work.  But take a day off from Facebook and Instagram.  Take a week off.  In December of 2017, I became convicted of all these things from this passage of Scripture:

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”  Ephesians 5:15-16

As a result, I completely deleted all my social media without telling anyone at all.  It took two weeks for anyone to notice!  And guess what?  I avoided social media for two years.  I didn’t miss anything at all, and I generally felt much better.  I made other changes at that time as well, including spending less time watching TV and more time reading and studying God’s word.

I’m not necessarily saying that you should delete social media for two years.  And some who are reading this may not even use social media (this article is originally put into print for the congregation I serve), so there may be some other ways in which you need to reprioritize your life, for your own health and spiritual well-being.  Time is short and easy to waste, so make sure you are honoring the Lord in all that you do with it.

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce

bruce.cullom@gmail.com