Sometimes life is overwhelming.  Be it just normal pressures we place on ourselves or things far more embarrassing…

And more often than not, the words & emotions are difficult to convey.  However, I suspect they are shared emotions of many today — and as such, it seems like I should be bold to admit they can be struggles, that they are real and present (despite the fact I think & know them to be ridiculous).

Let’s start with social media.  Can we just admit that it makes life more difficult sometimes?  Even when I know it’s unwise to assume the facade of someone’s online life is a perfect reflection of their real life — it can sometimes be painful.  Even if you didn’t want to be invited somewhere, being excluded or unintentionally feel ‘forgotten’, is a difficult & common emotion.  It’s obnoxious, but FOMO (as my younger friends and peers call it), the “Fear of Missing Out” is lame, but very real — and very divisive at times.

(NOTE: please know this isn’t a response to things friends have posted online recently 🙂 this is just culmination of thoughts that Clara and I have talked on an off about for a long time and the issue behind all of this is deeper, it’s a matter of heart, not circumstances — no worries!)

In addition I will sometimes, albeit not often enough, stay away from Facebook or Instagram.  That way I am not reminded of ‘whatever I am not or don’t have’ or ‘ways I am lacking’ — which is indeed a lie from the Enemy (Satan).  What I mean to say, it’s easier to avoid social media than fight against the lies we are told/shown every day.  Lies like, we aren’t good enough, you are less valuable than them, you aren’t as wise, smart, successful or attractive, you are forgotten, you are less loved… Those are hard thoughts — and lies we are all told constantly (in one way or another), whether we see it or not.

Regardless of this world — I know my heavenly Father loves me completely & perfectly (see the Bible, all of it).  But seriously, it can hurt to feel less loved than you should.  We’ve all been there, sometimes we are good at brushing off the lies, or speaking truth to ourselves.  But not always…  All that to say, we know the TRUTH — and I personally must repent of the moments that I believe the lies.  Jesus, send your Spirit, give us the Truth & help us abide in the Truth.

“Come to me, all who are weary & burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy — and My burden is light.”
— Matthew 11:28-30 NASB

We can’t expect to be perfect or lead perfect lives.  We can’t compare ourselves with all the ‘masks’ or ‘facades’ that we and our friends put online.  It’s not intentional (hopefully!), but people can’t show everything online — and shouldn’t.  But for me it is just too easy to see:

• what I don’t have and/or want
• what gifts others have and I don’t…
• how great their homes, their lives all appear to look (compared to mine)
• they’re more blessed & I am ‘behind’

Even IF those things are true, it’s not wise or good to believe the lie that any of those make a person more loved or valuable to God the Father.

It’s easy to feel left out in life too, not just social media.  We ‘think’ friends have ‘left us behind’.  So rarely is this true.  Satan, the Enemy wants to destroy us & community we have — we must watch for that & guard against it — (see John 10:10 and 1 Peter 5:6-9).

John 10:10 says and reminds us that Jesus came to bring ABUNDANT life.  Not defeated life, or sad life, or, ‘left out and behind’ life or ‘limping along’ life — NO, he came to bring ABUNDANT LIFE.  I don’t know about others, but that’s a promise from Jesus direct, and it’s a promise I want to cling to, a promise I want to find constant peace in, and to abide in.

That’s my confession for now — and I thank God for the forgiveness of those moments when I believe the lies.

— Brian
(12:17 am, 8/31/16)