A Little Lesson for Myself

I wrestle with social media. As I’m sure many of you do as well. What was once just a platform to keep up to date on what’s going on in people’s lives (like Facebook), it has now become a place to showcase outside news, informative articles, opinions, perspectives, etc. There is this hesitancy among my scrolling, so as to not immerse myself in the culture of what social media has become.

And instead of just being a place to keep in touch with others, it has become a place to keep in touch with the pandemic of the world. In whatever aspect you desire. The predictions. The guidelines. The thoughts on what to do and what to believe. Long gone are the days to just keep in touch with someone.

I have purposefully not watched the news because we just don’t know. But what I do know, is what the Bible says. And it clearly says in umpteen verses (yes, I call that a number), to NOT FEAR. And what do most news broadcasts and shared articles on social media do? Instill fear. I’m not saying that they are untrue and I’m not saying there is no validity. But I’ve read some of the comments and often they only create a divide. Who is right? Who is wrong? But I also sense this angst. And I can’t help but wonder, is this our purpose? To create this whirlwind of panic? Of fear?

An acronym I try to live by is THINK:

• Is it TRUE?
• Is it HELPFUL?
• Is it INSPIRING?
• Is it NECESSARY?
• Is it KIND?

When I post, I often try to ask myself those very questions. Something may be true, but is it helpful? It may feel necessary, but is it inspiring? Does what I’m saying draw people closer to God and fear HIM more? Or fear, fear itself?

I believe the only thing we should fear, is not knowing our Savior, Jesus Christ. That is what I fear for others. And so…

Am I living my life in a way that draws people away from the fear of this world to a fear of our Savior?

And I fail miserably at times. I fear. It’s a constant daily battle and choice to not. And I also fail at living out this THINK acronym. Just ask my husband! What I say is NOT always helpful, necessary, or kind. (Insert sheepish face). But my hope is that when I DO live by the THINK acronym, that others are pointed to Jesus Christ.

We have a giant platform to stand on with social media. And I know I need to constantly think about what I post and say – and my prayer is that in the end, it always points to THE TRUTH. The one and only TRUTH.