It’s first thing in the morning and I’ve already glanced at Facebook on my phone. I stare in disbelief that it doesn’t matter what time of day it is for strong opinions and words to fill my page. My head begins shaking wondering how, why and what, if anything, will change.
I find myself in this place of unbelief these days. My head seems to be in perpetual motion as I shake it over and over at the news. Where do you find yourself in this messy world of social media?
I search for truth and it ends up getting lost in the many versions surrounding us . My heart hurts at the callousness and disregard for all people groups. I go to my default and try to carry the burden on my own as if it is mine to carry. The burden weighs me down and my ability to make a difference fights for strength underneath the weight of it all. Instead, I look for a way to sift through the masses of information hoping to make a difference.
In this space of unbelief, I see a country overcome by anger, ugliness, hatred and their own versions of truth. I grasp for a secure place to land knowing that love and peace is only found in the One who bears the scars that freed us from sin and hatred two thousand years ago.
I turn to God, the Great Sifter. He gently sorts through the anger and ugliness and balances it with His truth and grace. God filters pieces of His love through our everyday. He desires to show us that we can hold onto Him for everything. I am learning how to counteract my unbelief with my belief in God. When I openly receive all of God’s love, I see how His truth outweighs and out shines the world’s version of truth.
One of our greatest desires is to belong and to be known. We spend so much time searching for the perfect friend or perfect group to belong to and give up what is right in front of us. There is this belief we should choose sides because it gives us purpose and credibility in a world crying for both. We seek for our voice to be louder. We then overshare on social media in the hopes we are heard. While we are shouting, our voice ends up competing with thousands of others and we work toward standing out. The process motivates us to go bigger each time without thinking of what others may think. Our conviction spreads through every avenue available and becomes unbelief to people like me.
[Tweet “When the world’s burdens are too heavy, remember the Gospel is light.”]
The gentle reminder that Jesus will never leave us as orphans speaks truth into our need to belong.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16-18
When the world’s burdens are too heavy, remember the Gospel is light.
We all yearn to belong and lift our voices in a cry for identity and worth. God calls us to find the voice that speaks love and hold it as our own.
When we feel isolated and strive to be heard, God reminds us we are not orphans. He always hears us and will never leave.
May we center ourselves in grace and truth as we journey through each day. May God be our sifter as we find the truth in the muddiness of social media.
Sabbath blessings friends!
I love this “When the world’s burdens are too heavy, remember the Gospel is light.”
This is an unsettling time, for sure, friend … and social media’s only stirring the pot, leaving us more feeling more anxious, fearful, powerless.
I’ve been starting to tighten up on my time online, to turn screens off, to turn my attention to life right in front of me, the people in my world who need my attention.
To ramp up my prayer life instead of grazing around and stewing over the latest news.
Only God is able to redeem us all …
I need to back away from social media and why I haven’t done that yet I’m not sure. I know I needed to sit with this turmoil for a bit to understand how I feel about it so I can move forward. God needed to teach me what it is He wants me to know. Reliance on Him is where I will find peace. God is our Redeemer and source of peace. Joining you in prayer for our country.
Mary,
What a beautiful reminder when the world of media is weighing us down – that His burden is light. I often feel like the salmon swimming upstream…so glad to have others like you to come alongside and encourage me to listen to the counselor of Truth God has given me and keep walking in God’s ways…even if I’m walking against the flow. Thank you!
Blessings,
Bev xx
We are swimming upstream together but we have the guidance of the best swimmer of all – God. I always love when you stop by and visit Bev. You make my day. May we seek peace in the One who is peace.
Amen friend! So much THIS: “When the world’s burdens are too heavy, remember the Gospel is light.”
Now I just need to remember those words you quoted in your comment as my mantra. God is better at carrying these burdens than I and I need to release them to Him. Happy new week friend!
Amen, my friend. Our fist and last “source” of truth should always be His word. Blessings on your Sabbath.
Our only source should be from God’s word. I can be guilty of not following this myself but it is an area that I would like to continue to grow in. Thank you for stopping by. Blessings!
Hi Mary! Gentleness and love are gifts from the Spirit. We all have them, and we have to try and let them take the lead, not our negativity.
I don’t see a lot of bad stuff on FB, but I have seen people putting up articles and thoughts that I don’t agree with…and then seeing the responses that just seem to want to inflame.
It is a wierd time in the US. Like you, I want to be a positive place to land, and a hopeful one. May God grace us with gentleness, and may we then spread that to all we meet, on-line and in real life.
Blessings,
Ceil
I am glad you do not see much negativity. I think what I am seeing are the articles proclaiming both sides but the comments under are what are so hurtful. I pray we ask for the gifts of love and peace from the Spirit before we speak out without any filter. I am joining you in asking for God’s grace in my words and actions.
I can so identify with your thoughts here, Mary. “My heart hurts at the callousness and disregard for all people groups.” Like you said, it can weigh us down so much. Thank you for the hope offered here. Yes, the Gospel is light. Yes, may God be our Sifter! Love and hugs to you!
I am blessed by your encouragement. I am also glad to know I am not alone in my feelings about social media. I pray you have a wonderful week.
There’s a feeling I receive whenever I open up facebook that I can’t quite discern. However, it isn’t one of anticipation, I know that for sure. And reading your post it hit me that social media platforms is a place God’s beauty can be shown to the world but it is less and less, as feeds seem to be less and less authentic, and beauty lies in authenticity. You’ve got me pondering! Shared your post to my Inspiring Hope page, as it is so hopeful, when we let the gospel be our light, Thanks for this.
I am curious what social media is like for you because you live in Canada, right? Not that you are immune to everyone else but was thinking it could look different than what I see daily. I agree that we are a world that has lost the importance of authenticity and even love to some extent. Thank you for sharing this post. I pray you have a blessed week.
Our family has kept from social media for the very reasons you have listed. I enjoy blogging because I can choose who I want to visit and be encouraged by. There is so much ugliness around us, but your words “the gospel is light” is true indeed. In Jesus we can rest and He carries the burdens that are far too big for us to understand or even carry. May the Lord bless you my friend, praying the presence of the Lord is with you on this Sunday 🙂
Thank you so much for these kind words. I am learning the advantage of filtering and limiting my time on social media. It can certainly make me crazy and that’s not worth it. Jesus does carry our burdens and knows what we need even before we need it. I am praying that God blesses your week.
Sweet Mary, this is why I have taken social media off of my phone! I believe the negative effects were bringing me down and hurting my feelings toward people who felt differently than I about issues. When I do log on to social media, I check my notifications and browse through some pictures. I know this way is best for me ? Let’s let the Great Filterer encourage us to be brave and FILTER what’s not good for us. Let’s look UP and remain positive that HE is in control! Thanks, Mary, for your thought-provoking post?
Thank you for sharing your own wise words here. Taking Facebook off my phone is my next step. It can be an immediate downer at the beginning of each day. I am joining you in looking bravely at God and His truth in all. Blessed you spent a little time here today.
So true. Thanks fit stating my own feelngs so well.
You’re welcome! I pray we always seek God’s truth before we post. Hope you are doing well and staying warm!
You’ve framed my relationship with social media to a “T.” And I’m reading a book about humility right now (by Hannah Anderson), so the demanding-ness of all the voices stands out to me so clearly. May The Great Sifter sift our motives and the intentions of our hearts before we say add one word to that full page!
Mine is definitely a love/hate relationship right now. There is good out there and I have many friends like you who are posting positive things. Unfortunately that is countered with just as many who are not. I am joining you in prayer for sifting through our motives and intentions before we post. Blessings!
Thank you Mary! Well said! The hatred and disagreements are on our minds and causing hearts to ache. May God bring peace to our world. He is the answer!
I am also praying for God’s peace to reign. Thank you for stopping by and hope you are well.
Beautiful my friend! Congratulations on being chosen to write for God Sized Dreams. So exciting!
Thank you Sweet Barbie! I am excited and humbled to be part of God-sized dreamers. What an amazing group of writers!