Christian Devotions published a devotional I wrote entitled Social Media Feed. For those of you who don’t know, Christian Devotions is a great website for daily devotional messages.
Social Media Feed
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24 NIV
Social media can color our minds with images of everyone’s best moments, making it easy to lose sight of what’s important.
I scroll along my social media feeds on my phone during moments of idleness and catch myself thinking, I wish I had a house like that. What a great trip. I wish I was there. I wish my significant other was like that. Viewing our lives through the lens of scarcity instead of through a lens of gratefulness and abundance is easy.
God doesn’t want us envying others or basing our self-worth on how we fare when compared to others.
The Answer?
“Be strong” is a command. God knows troubles abound in life. He knows we will feel fear because of our circumstances. However, He inspires us to be strong in the face of adversity, because He is in our corner. In God, we can find the patience, humility, fortitude, and security necessary to prevail.
Collins dictionary says “take heart” means to have more courage or to cheer up. The psalmist teaches us God is good and has our best interests in mind, despite what we may see around us. We need to muster the courage to trust in God and have faith in His plan. God is faithful and loving and will stand by our side.
“All you who hope in the Lord” is an invitation to seek comfort in the Lord. God’s strength and abiding love are available for all of God’s children. As the God of abundance, we are all able to draw from His strength, which has no limit.
In times of trouble, we can put up notecards as reminders to pray first about any issues that crop up or keep a daily or weekly journal directly addressing God. We can take courage while trusting in the character of God by taking quiet time for reflection or by going over the names for God, letting descriptions of His character sink in.
We can also fast from television and social media to help break the hold culture has over our thoughts. Instead, we can devote that time to reading encouraging materials or listening to uplifting music.
Life can throw you a curveball at any time, so let leaning on God—rather than social media—become a habit for you.
Love, K.
Author of Ten Iron Principles, Contributor in The Power to Make a Difference
K.A., this is such an epidemic and so easy to fall for. Thanks for shining a light on this topic of comparison.
Kelly, when my daughter needed to make a decision about her summer college mission trip, she chose to fast from all social media and pray, until she felt like she could make a decision that had been bathed in concentrated prayer. I was impressed with my college senior, and decided I could learn a lot from her break from social media! Thanks for sharing.
Well said ma’am. Social media provides a distraction from the “grind” of our everyday sometimes; and it can be a most useful way to learn new things and interact with new people. As you so well-cautioned, be aware of the lens in which you are viewing social media through. Filter all in your life through the filter of God’s lens. Well said indeed.
A great reminder that being strong is a command, not a suggestion! I am so thankful God promises us His strength and that He will use our weaknesses for His glory. Thanks for this encouraging reminder!