Yesterday, I did it. I pulled the plug, so to speak. I quit Instagram. Sigh. To say it was bittersweet would be an understatement, but to say it was necessary would be the honest-to-goodness truth.
Sure, I still have a Facebook account and other socials I tend to tap into from time to time, but Instagram was my downfall. My weakness, so to speak. I guess because it was the place where my social writing journey began, and the platform that came with a pure eagerness to share the gospel with love, truth, and grace. It held my hopes, dreams, and a bit of my heart, as each post was carefully crafted and written with purpose for aspiring writers and faith-filled women. It truly was great, until it wasn’t.
The Humble Beginnings of Social Media
My personal story likely doesn’t differ very much from yours, as we all use these platforms to connect, share, grow, and inwardly hope that our posts or messages are making a difference. After all, we are created that way (Ephesians 2:10). Hence, the deep-rooted need to start up an account. We crave connection and desire to contribute to something bigger than we are, knowing it brings meaning.
Honestly, in full transparency, I have been deeply impacted by online “influencers”, so much so that I currently have a kitchen full of wooden spoons, glass containers, and stainless-steel mugs as a meager means to detox my family from plastics. I have also learned how to grow a garden (it’s still a huge work in progress). I bought a mini trampoline to help with lymphatic drainage and found the perfect all-natural plug-in to get rid of those pesky pet odors. Oh, and before officially logging off, I found the most amazing recipe for pasta sauce!
Social media really can be great. However, as believers, these spaces go even deeper as we yearn to connect with others by spreading God’s love and intentionally declaring the truth in a world that is so desperate for it. In other words, we strive to be “influencers” for God. The connections and conversations often test our faith but also can grow us as faithful women, wives, and mothers, all the while challenging us to embrace each season of this life with hope.
So, why does social media lead so many to step back or disconnect altogether? The answer may not be so back and white, but for believers, that decision often comes with a combination of thoughtful prayers and heavy convictions.
The Enemy Lurks Behind the Scenes
“Is this platform drawing you closer to God?”
This is the question that I felt compelled to answer time and time again. Every time I picked up my phone with that notification ding, spent hours doomscrolling, or just reached for it out of boredom, the heaviness in my heart came with this looming question.
The bottom line is that the enemy loves to hide behind things that appear “good.” (2 Corinthians 11:14). For example, he will place our pride over humility and call it “growing followers.” He will keep us glued to endless reels, claiming we are gaining insight into social media’s ever-evolving algorithm. He’ll confuse our purpose and state that we need to find “experts” to give us answers. He will use online prayer as a replacement for real connection, and stealthy comparisons will bring waves of false hope and joy. He can and will use anything coated in the glow of “goodness” to ultimately steal us away from the real goodness of God!
Here me clearly when I say this: Satan isn’t going to waste his time on worldly influencers, but he will most certainly target those who are on a mission to spread the truth and shed light on the rich love of our God. Basically, this menace is always lurking behind the scenes, waiting patiently for the right time to lead God’s beloved children astray. That could be by taking us down the rabbit hole of fear or by captivating our attention for hours on end, often through expressive ads that motivate us to impulse-buy. His motive is to distract, entrance, and twist the truth just enough for you to do mental gymnastics, leaving you weary and exhausted.
Now, with the fast and emerging trajectory of AI and the high-stakes tensions that are escalating worldwide, social media has become a frenzy for Satan to toy with our mental and emotional state. This is leading us into very dangerous territory online. We must be aware of the enemy’s tactics, be on guard, and get in tune with God first.
We Must Heed the Voice of God, FIRST
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 commands us to love God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength. Sounds so simple. But, let’s be honest, loving God with our all is not easy. That’s because human nature inclines towards sin, and we will continually fail. Friends, loving God with our “all” takes bold, intentional, deliberate action and thoughtful choices to know Him, honor Him, commune with Him, and place Him at the center of our lives.
So, let’s break this down a bit and see how we can truly tune in to God first, and love Him with our “all,” despite our human imperfections.
First, we must realize that God defines love and therefore commands us how to love Him and others. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us that love is patient, kind, content, and humble. It continues by saying that Biblical love honors others, is completely selfless, and sacrificial. This is how we are to love God and love others.
In a world that has become self-centered and has made up selfish definitions of love, it is so important that we go back to this truth and remember that we love because God first loved us.
We love God with our whole heart when we carve out time to be present and cultivate that sweet intimacy with Him. It comes with discipline and obedience as we heed His instruction and follow His will for our lives.
We love God with our whole mind when we study scripture and dig into His Word. It’s taking those truths and declaring them over our lives when lies creep in and ransom our thoughts. It’s seeking God for wisdom and discernment, trusting His way is best.
We love God with our whole soul and strength when we strive to walk by faith and surrender our way. It comes with vulnerability and honesty as we come before God in areas of our lives that need grace, and with the strength to let go of guilt and shame by accepting the precious gift that offers us true freedom.
How does all this pertain to socials? Once again, it goes back to the question, “Is this platform drawing me closer to God?”
Signs You May Need to Break Up with Social Media
Over the past couple of years, I have slowly felt God nudging me to stop scrolling. But I didn’t listen. I have felt the gentle whispers just to put my phone down and be present. I didn’t listen. After I posted something I'd spent hours on, deep down I didn’t want to look back to get those dopamine hits of validation, yet, as you might have guessed… my heart didn’t listen.
My page might have been a place that brought me great joy, and I pray it encouraged others, but in the meantime, I was not tuning into God first. And to be honest, I surely wasn’t giving Him my all. I was stuck in a pattern that became fixated on algorithms, latest news briefs, and feeling the pressure to show up. Yet, when I got still and quiet, and finally listened…God’s conviction was clear - I had made Instagram an idol.
Your interactions with socials may differ, but as you pause, pray, and seek wisdom on your social media journey, take a moment to recognize a few signs or red flags, then hand them all over to God. Allow Him to do a work in your heart and lead you to either place better boundaries around social media, step away for a bit, or break up with it altogether.
Warning signs to consider as you pray for wisdom:
1. It has become a habit to reach for your phone and scroll socials before you even converse with God.
2. You’ve neglected real-life events, community, and fellowship and have isolated and retreated from others instead.
3. When you tune in to a social media platform, you feel anxious or mentally exhausted.
4. Your socials are the last thing you see before you drift off to sleep.
5. When you have real-life conversations, you have been known to glance at your phone or interact with social media.
6. You have an immediate impulse to check your status after posting.
7. The good intentions to have a “quick look” easily turn into a few hours.
8. Your real life is filled with stressors, so you turn to socials for answers or to “zone out.”
9. You have been led or easily swayed down dangerous or tempting rabbit holes.
10. You are questioning your worth, purpose, or God-given gifts and talents.
11. Social media is flooding you with guilt and shame.
12. You have dismissed or made excuses for the conviction God is laying on your heart to step away.
Dear sweet sister in Christ, we are all meant to be Godly influencers. That can surely be done via social media, but there are so many other ways to make an impact for His kingdom. It just starts with a soft heart, an act of obedience, and a bold step in faith.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Candy Retriever
