saltandlight

Missing out is something that most of us don’t want! We want to be included. We want to be in the know. We want to experience the joy that we see others experiencing. Have you ever heard the phrase “keeping up with the Jones’?” That phrase was around before social media was even a thing! It was referring to trying to keep up with your neighbors that had something better than you.

Now, that social media has taken over our lives, we don’t try to just keep up with our friends and neighbors. We are trying to keep up with a false image of people’s lives, some we barely even know! Y’all do realize that what people post on social media is a picture perfect image of their lives right? And sometimes it is very misleading. What is going on behind that picture is sometimes a very different story.

But we see it and think that we want a car like that. Or a cute outfit like the one she’s wearing. Or the money that they must have to be able to go on so many vacations. I’ll admit that I have fell into this trap more than once! Okay let’s be real, all of the time! LOL And I’m a forty six year old woman who knows better! I know that everything is not always the way it seems. And I know that I shouldn’t want what others have when I’ve been blessed by God in other ways.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s. Exodus 20:17

Imagine how this is affecting younger more impressionable minds? Some of these young people that have grown up with social media, really believe everything they see and hear on facebook, instagram and tiktok. And don’t get me started on the amount of children that have access to social media! (Even though in order to have an account, a child is supposed to be at least 13.)

Moving on. I saw something recently that I really liked. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It stands for Fear Of Missing Out. I saw something recently that talked about JOMO. It is the JOY of missing out! I like that! Personally for myself, I have found the more I take a break from social media, the more peace I have! The more joy I have. We don’t have to participate in anything and everything that is going on. We aren’t going to miss anything major if we get off of Facebook for a day or so. (I promise if you miss anything, someone will let you know!) (My problem is that I’m so nosy that I want to be one of the first to know! LOL)

I find the more time I spend in God’s book and off of Facebook, I am relaxed, I am joyful, I am calm.

God has a design and a plan for us. And it is not on social media! It is found in His book! We need to get ourselves back to the basics and find the JOY of missing out! We need to start setting the example for our children!

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

We don’t need to be worried about what everyone else is up to. We need to be taking care of our own lives, our own families and our own walks with God. In John 21, Peter did this. He was asking the Lord, what about John? And the Lord’s answer was to quit worrying about others and just follow Him. When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:21-22 It’s that simple!

So, I am challenging you today! Make a goal for yourself to find the JOY of missing out! Take a break from social media. It has become such a habit for most of us that we pick up our phones and start scrolling before we even realize what we are doing. Let your children or grandchildren see you putting the phone down and spending time with them. Even better, spending time in God’s word!

And please don’t go to Facebook, Tiktok or the Gram to get your Bible teaching! Yes, it is good to use those things as tools to share God’s word. (I’m using that to share this blog post.) But that should not be our source. Get into God’s word either on your phone or in your Bible. Let’s find our JOMO!!

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21