(This post has been in my drafts folder for months.  I finally got around to finishing my thoughts. 🙂

A few days ago, the thought passed my mind of how many of us would turn into pillars of salt via social media.

How often has God delivered you or tried to push you forward, only for you to “look back” and see what their life is like without you? How many times has God said, “Forget the former things. Behold, I will do a new thing. Do you not perceive it?” only for you to remember and yearn for the former things and have your heart go back to it even if only for a few minutes?
How many of us would be Lot’s wife and become a pillar of salt because we just couldn’t let it go?

“Look at their little family”
“This one found her soulmate”
“She got engaged”
“This one had a baby”
“This one could be a model”
“This one got a new job”
“This one got married”
“This one got promoted”
“This one bought a house”
“This one is traveling the world”

I would have my own salt manufacturing company by now.

This thought came to mind when God showed me that the spiritual battle is in our minds. Yes, we can have actual affliction and circumstances, but God says we can have peace in the midst of them. How much torment does social media passively create because of the subconscious comparison game? You probably would not have even realized your life was lacking something or were unhappy until you saw post after post of chronic highlight reels on the internet. Where does it come from?

“AND DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.” – ROMANS 12:2

Scrolling seems harmless, but when you look back, there may be the tiniest sting in your heart. Sure, it’s easily brushed off, but one look turns into two, and then you wonder, “Why not me?”. Why wasn’t I good enough? Why can’t I have this?

Next thing you know, someone’s winning season is making you fully aware of the lack of winning of your own. However, this is different from how things are supposed to be.

“YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE; AND YOU SHALL NOT DESIRE YOUR NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE, HIS FIELD, HIS MALE SERVANT, HIS FEMALE SERVANT, HIS OX, HIS DONKEY, OR ANYTHING THAT IS YOUR NEIGHBOR’S.” – DEUTERONOMY 5:21

How relevant is this? How often has the quote, “God will never send you someone else’s husband,” been real? How many people commit adultery or cheat on their spouse simply because of the better life lie shown on social media? How many people can’t stay committed even when dating? How high is the divorce rate? That doesn’t happen overnight. It’s one little thing after another until you are completely drenched in sin and rationalizing it.
It takes one glance for you to pine after what others want, and without being dealt with, it turns from jealousy to hatred. Sin creeps in a little over time.

If you got what you prayed for…

“AND HE SAITH UNTO THEM, ARE YE SO WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ALSO? DO YE NOT PERCEIVE, THAT WHATSOEVER THING FROM WITHOUT ENTERETH INTO THE MAN, IT CANNOT DEFILE HIM; BECAUSE IT ENTERETH NOT INTO HIS HEART, BUT INTO THE BELLY, AND GOETH OUT INTO THE DRAUGHT, PURGING ALL MEATS?

AND HE SAID, THAT WHICH COMETH OUT OF THE MAN, THAT DEFILETH THE MAN. FOR FROM WITHIN, OUT OF THE HEART OF MEN, PROCEED EVIL THOUGHTS, ADULTERIES, FORNICATIONS, MURDERS, THEFTS, COVETOUSNESS, WICKEDNESS, DECEIT, LASCIVIOUSNESS, AN EVIL EYE, BLASPHEMY, PRIDE, FOOLISHNESS: ALL THESE EVIL THINGS COME FROM WITHIN, AND DEFILE THE MAN.” – MARK 7:18-23

I know for me when I was struggling about being single it seemed EVERYONE WAS GETTING MARRIED.  EVERYONE was finding someone and I couldn’t be happy for people.  God has delivered me from that, but I GET IT.

This is how much God hates sin:
“AND IF THY RIGHT HAND OFFEND THEE, CUT IT OFF, AND CAST IT FROM THEE: FOR IT IS PROFITABLE FOR THEE THAT ONE OF THY MEMBERS SHOULD PERISH, AND NOT THAT THY WHOLE BODY SHOULD BE CAST INTO HELL.” – MATTHEW 5:30

If social media costs me my joy and peace cut if off.  If looking at other people’s happiness causes me to get jealous and yearn for what I don’t  have when God has blessed me with more than I can imagine… it’s TIME TO GO.  I have friends I can keep in touch with.  Those are the ones who really matter anyway?  Why do we want to show off things to people we may not even like or impress people we don’t really know?

I saw a quote once that said, “Unfollow anything that makes you wish you had a different life.”

A strong root is formed in darkness…

I only have Instagram (and this blog) as I cut off Facebook a few years ago. I do not understand Twitter or snap chat (is that still a thing??) and will never have TikTok. (I would say I am an old person, but there are older people with accounts that are booming.) Did you know my grandma lived to be 92 and never had social media or any idea what the internet was? How did she live?? 😛 . Meanwhile, my husband’s grandma’s Instagram is viral.

It was not until recently that I posted to Instagram, and I fell into the trap because I wanted to shout from the rooftops about the gift that is my husband. I enjoy making videos and sharing them with people, but I am careful about doing so in a godly way, if at all. I’ve only posted briefly and had to unfollow all kinds of accounts. I don’t follow “people” on Instagram, but mainly bible quotes, business, DIY, health/food accounts, or inspirational accounts. Even the DIY accounts are too much because they make you wish for more and more. What you feed your mind is what you are. Scrolling through things edifies or destroys, and happiness is a choice as the battle is always in the mind. We pass images all day, so be careful what you see and follow.

You have to know yourself and your limits.

If I want people to know something I tell them.  Social media has isolated us.  It’s made an image of sharing and relationships, but you can’t get to know people behind a screen.  Go to them.  Talk to people in real life.  That’s what’s wrong with this society now.  It’s so easy to share something to the masses, but so hard to go to your elderly neighbor’s house and or having a real conversation face to face with a friend over coffee and sharing your life with them.

God did not create me to model someone else’s life. He created me for a journey to live out His purpose for me. This is MY walk with Him and not anyone else’s. This is the life He gave me, and three months ago, I married someone to share it with. God would have made me someone else if he wanted me to live a different life. No, I’m to stay in my lane and go where He leads me.

Social media depression is a real thing.  Social media can be fun and a good tool to keep in touch with people, but I’ve learned I have to deactivate my account every now and then (like right now).  I need to step back and focus on my own life and take time away from other people’s highlight reels.

Don’t look back.  You’ll never move forward.

“REMEMBER YE NOT THE FORMER THINGS, NEITHER CONSIDER THE THINGS OF OLD.

BEHOLD, I WILL DO A NEW THING; NOW IT SHALL SPRING FORTH; SHALL YE NOT KNOW IT? I WILL EVEN MAKE A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS, AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT.” – ISAIAH 43:18-19

With all of that said… what did we do before memes?  😛