Imagine waking up first thing in the morning. You’re getting ready for work and somewhere in between brushing your teeth and washing your face you’re checking Facebook on your smartphone.
As you let your thumb glide down the newsfeed page, you notice that friend of yours announcing that he gets to work from home and is so happy to not have to worry about traffic. Later, you notice another friend who announces being finally being engaged. Then, another friend on your newsfeed is just as happy and is encouraging others to be too.
But, you hate your job, you’re single and not happy or cheerful.
Angry, frustrated and depressed, you crawl into a ball and try to figure out why your life is not nearly as awesome as those who post status updates of freedom, happiness and love.
The Truth Behind Those Posts
That friend that says they are happy to work from home might be struggling financially behind the scenes. That person that says they are engaged and are so excited and happy may in reality be completely scared out of there mind. The friend whose just as happy as can be might actually be completely depressed and is struggling to make light of a bad situation. Bottom line, you really don’t know the entire story. To compare yourself to someone, whether it is through social media or not, is absolutely unfair.
The Status Update of Truth
We’re all going through something or just coming out of it. We’re all imperfect. Sometimes we have good days and sometimes we have bad ones. And it’s okay. You can post about it, or, for the sake of not being too public about your private life, you can ask your followers to be praying for you. In fact, you can contact a friend or family member in person and talk to them face to face without the use of social media.
One of the reasons I personally try to avoid complaining on Facebook or other social media channels, is so I can keep attention away from me. I try to make it a point to spend time with God and with Christ in the midst of my issues in private.
There’s just something about the temptation to post your junk online so people can affirm you and digitally pat your back and let you know “you’re strong” and “everything is okay” and that “God’s got it.”
Affirmation Without Notification
Struggling with comparing myself to others whom I admired and hoped to be like, I took time away from social media over a week and a half a while back.
I realized that my time with God had to be first and I needed affirmation and direction from Christ rather than notification and updates from my social media channels.
Let Your Light Shine
Matthew 5:16 says Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Don’t hide who you are and what good you bring to the table in relation to loving and serving God and Christ. And don’t let yourself lose sight of your value in Him and how much He cares for you.
People need that more than anything! They need light to shine…your light specifically.
After all, we could all use some real light in our social media rather than the artificial stuff.
[Sad panda image via ah.b|ack’s s6nse via Compfight cc]
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