I can’t keep up with the online world. It moves too fast. And that rushed, hurried vibe I get when I try isn’t my favorite. So it appears I have slowly dwindled off the social media grid. I’m not anti-social media. I actually really like it. I just can’t keep up with it.
The other day I was thinking about Jesus. Always a good idea. And I was thinking about how He had 12 close friends. Twelve men that He did life beside. Twelve men that He poured into on deep levels. Yes, He ministered to, healed, taught, and perfectly loved thousands. He’s Jesus. But His day-in-day-out, time-invested relationships while He walked on this earth were with 12 men. And that thought caused me to breathe in relief.
Because twelve I can pour into. Twelve I can pray for on intimate levels. Twelve I can share my heart and struggles with. Twelve I can know.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…” ~Jesus
John 14:27a
There’s this pulse of anxiety that I feel when I try to keep up with the constant streams of information. And maybe it’s because we’re not designed to keep up with the constant streams. Maybe God actually designed us for intimate, deep relationships with…twelve. Imagine that.
I still like social media. Instagram is my online BFF. I still like it, but for sanity sake, I have to reject the idea that I can keep up with it. And maybe — radical thought — we’re not supposed to.
Fill me, Lord…
How do you guard your heart against the rushed, ever-moving, continuum of social media?
Oh, Lara. You always speak to my heart. Loved this!!
Miss you, sweet Christie. š
Oh, how many families are falling apart because someone is rushing to keep up with the social media family that isn’t there in their day to day life? I fell off the grid and am joining a little – all so slowly. But remembering, these moments that are right in front of me, they’re the ones that I’m given each and every day to share and grow. Everything else – is a little icing and I never like too much icing on my cake.
Beautiful words, as always sweet friend.
Well said, Rebecca!
“Rushing to keep up.” Even that phrase stresses me out. Ha. Yes. The moments right in front of us. Blessings to you, Rebecca.
Yes! I’ve totally given Facebook the boot (with the exception of work commitments), and Twitter and I have recently had a falling out. Instagram still has my heart, and only recently I’ve felt like it’s okay to not see all the pictures all the time. What a relief!
My social media motto is “if I didn’t see it, it didn’t happen.” And if it really did happen and it matters in my little world, I’ll find out about it…eventually. š
LOL. I love that motto. I’m going to use it. It is a relief not to feel like we have to see everything. And that it didn’t even happen. hahaha.
this was my last year – struggling, overwhelmed, miserable. How come I was the only blogger online who felt deflated and miserable every time I got online? It took 6 months of getting away from it (quitting all $ jobs) to realize I didn’t WANT to keep up with everyone else’s stuff {not to mention so much of it was just negative comments or snide remarks}. I can do without a lot of that. And no one needs to know what we’re all about every single second. More boy smiles and sunny days for me less thumb war with my phone.
Love it, Stef. Less thumb war. So good. š
You took the words right outta my mouth re: the anxiety in trying to keep up! I gave up FB this past summer and can I even tell you what a RELIEF it was to not check it 20 x a day!! I only occasionally check it now here and there because basically….I’ve lost interest. There’s not a lot of true communication happening on FB, so I’ve just chosen to let it go. Freedom! š
Freedom! Preach it, Jill. And that’s so true about real communication. May we be a people who have eyes to see the moments right in front of us.
I was just in that place, but now I’m okay with not knowing what some friends have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.
I bet you feel a sense of freedom and confidence in yourself with realizing this truth. You’ve given me much to think about! Thanks so much for your honesty.
Very well said, Lara! I was reading a Jerry Bridges book recently, Growing Your Faith, where he presented a similar idea. I was so relieved to know that God didn’t expect me to have a gazillion deep relationships, because … well, it just wasn’t happening. I felt like I had been letting Him down. Instead, I found I was (again!) putting too much pressure on myself.
This is JUST what I needed to read this morning. I’ve been trying to convince my heart (and head) to just check my Facebook and email once a day. I have this feeling that it will be very freeing to do this! This short post just convinced me that this would be a very good idea!
Loved this post! Really resonated with me as I was jut thinking this morning “How do these ladies keep up with all this social media?” It’s easy to feel defeated in that world.
I know of many bloggers that sat a regular time a day restricted to one hour or two (depending) and prioritize. If we were to sit on social media all day, the job would never get done. I’m working from home, and even turn my phone off when I work and check it on the regular bases for messages.
I love this post! I just hired a VA to help me build my online store because I felt overwhelmed with social media marketing. I love FB and I am starting to get into Pinterest and Instagram but when I feel like I HAVE to use it in an effort to build an online business so I can come home and be with my family it takes the fun out of it.
So glad that Amy Lynn Andrews shared this in her Useletter this week. This spoke to my soul…and I can think of a slew of other people I need to go off and share this with right now. Thank you for sharing the love letter of your heart…and for reminding us that it’s okay and healthy to set boundaries for ourselves with social media and relationships in general. When we follow Jesus as our model, we can’t go wrong!
I LOVE this idea. I agree, I can do 12. The whole world wide web is overwhelming and makes me want to quit often. But 12 is doable. And perhaps will free me to not need to keep up. I’m taking that with me this week. Thank you!
(PS, found this post through Amy Lynn’s e-mail; glad she shared š