Ever open your computer to do something, only to find yourself an hour later on Facebook? You didn’t even do the thing you planned. Did your phone give you a weekly update of our screen time and you were shocked? Do you notice your distraction as you talk to your kids, your spouse or friend? Do you feel guilty about it? Me too!
In my last post called Little Addictions https://anewlifeeveryday.com/little-addictions/ I talked about my struggle with sugar consumption and I mentioned social media as an addiction. The sugar may be a problem for my waistline and future health but social media is the devourer of my time and mental energy. And to be completely honest, this has been harder to deal with.
A Crutch
I admit that social media was a habit that came about originally as a way to deal with stress and to avoid difficult thoughts or feelings. It was seemingly the only way I knew how to turn off my thoughts. And as someone who thinks a lot about things and is naturally anxious there were a lot of thoughts to deal with. It was a coping mechanism to deal with difficult circumstances. My go to time suckers were Facebook, Youtube and streaming television services. I refused to even get Twitter, Instagram or Tik Tok because I knew I didn’t need another avenue to eat my time.
The problem now is that the habit is formed and it is my go to once I am even slightly stressed or for no apparent reason at all. The worst part is sometimes I log on and waste an hour or two without even thinking about it. I simply open it without realizing what I am doing or that I am going to regret this in a bit. When I look at my screen time for the day it hits me hard! Did I really waste that much time?!
Renewing Our Minds
There are two lessons here to be had. Firstly, I need to run to Jesus and find my peace in him instead of using social media as an ultimately useless crutch. Also, the renewing and training of my mind and my habits is obviously necessary. God expects us to be productive and to work (paid or unpaid), not simply for our or our family’s provision or well being but also for his people and kingdom.
I need to retrain my mind to stop and think before grabbing my phone or pulling up Facebook before doing that thing that I actually needed to do on my computer. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”, Romans 12:2.
Heart Diligence
The bible talks a lot about renewing our minds and believe me I need it. When I am filling my mind with God’s Word and clinging to his promises I am a much better me. When I am watching entertaining short videos one after another I get impatient, I get irritated and easily angry. I just don’t want to be bothered. I want to fall into this entertainment hole and escape. Unfortunately, it’s not the vacation kind of escape where you are left renewed or rested. It doesn’t feed my soul with anything that makes me a better person but actually the opposite. I tell my kids that what goes in your ears and your eyes will be what comes out of your mouth and heart. I need to remember that too. Guarding my heart needs to be a priority. Proverbs 4:23 says: “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life”.
Now after all that, I am not here to shame anyone who enjoys Social Media. It can be very useful and has its place. What I am saying is, “Where is its place in your life?” Is it in its proper place, or is it taking over time that could be spent doing something that is productive, something that is a blessing to others or ourselves? Are we avoiding the issues of life or trying to fill a hole as with any other addiction? Is it benefitting you or is it something you feel guilty about? Do you own it or does it own you? 2 Peter 2:19 says “… people are slaves to whatever controls them”. Ouch! I am a slave to Social Media and a cruel master she can be.
Freedom
Jesus has set me free and I do not want to be a slave again! So, what should I do? Cling to Jesus because he is the answer to everything that ails our souls and binds our hearts and minds. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” Galatians 5:1. Standing firm takes persistence and determination, a doggedness in our pursuit of Jesus. Seek to be changed and to find solutions and even healing to the reasons why we make unwise choices to begin with. I think as Christians we need to find out why we do what we do, so we can begin to steer ourselves to Jesus to meet our needs and fill our souls. Condemning ourselves won’t help, but realizing our need and our problem is the first step.
I just bought a book called “40 Day Social Media Fast” by Wendy Speake and I look forward to reading it and fasting. Speake’s book “The 40 Day Sugar Fast” was really helpful and eye opening. I am planning on doing the Social Media Fast and I will let you all know how it goes when I have completed it. Below us a link to Wendy Speake’s website.
Thank you Amanda for this most excellent post! It is so timely and so well spoken – a message that many need to take note of.