Month: December 2018

I’m an introvert. I’ll take email and text messages over phone conversations and group interactions any day. When I discovered Facebook 10 years ago, I was all over it. I dove in head first and no holds barred. It was my platform for sharing my thoughts, pictures, family life, day to day happenings, my fiber arts skills and whatever else I fancied. With Facebook Memories, I could relive those moments (or cringe at some of the stuff I posted) over again. I have met and befriended wonderful people through social media and been able to keep up with distant family. Those relationships are solid and commumication has extended outside the Facebook-verse. However wonderful it is to see what everyone in your circle is doing, it was never a satisfying option and often I would find myself fighting depression and disappointment because I, or my expectations of otthers, didn’t measure up to the lives being shared online.

Over the years I have taken social media fasts and/or deactivated accounts, only to jump right back in after a relatively short break. While praying about what God has to say about 2019, part of what He began speaking to me was the conviction that my Facebook usage was a major time waster and distraction (I’ll post the rest soon). This was not a surprise as I have been feeling less enchanted with social media for a while now. I deleted my Twitter and LinkedIn accounts years ago, having found them useless, and last year I deleted my Instagram for almost the same reason.

As I began telling Papa what I wanted to accomplish in this next year, He was showing me how my connection and addiction to scrolling my Facebook feed was keeping me from accomplishing it all now. My devotional time was cut into a fraction of the time I used to spend and it is limited already. The constant tug of “what is everyone doing” was always hovering on the fringe of my bible study and more often than not, I’d start scrolling. That’s all He needed to tell me.

My time with Him is precious and I am convinced that I will not accomplish anything if I allow the distraction social media provides. Is it harmless? Well, I’m not sure, but like Paul said it may be lawful, but it’s not edifying or helpful to me (1 Corinthians 10:23). You may feel different, and that is okay. I’m not here to convict you to delete yours.

In the few days since I deleted my profile, the urge to scroll and poke into the lives of others has lessened each day and I find myself meditating on Papa’s word more, listening to Him speak and enjoying my family and surroundings more. I plan to become more intentional and present in my relationships and endeavours.

What word has He given you for 2019 and how is it impacting you today?

Shalom! ❤️