I did it yesterday. I pulled the plug, so to speak. I quit Instagram. I sigh. To say it was bittersweet would be an understatement, but to be honest I would say it was necessary.
Of course, I still use my Facebook account and other social services from time to time, but Instagram has been my downfall. That’s my weakness, so to speak. I think it’s because that’s where my social writing journey began and the platform I came to with a genuine passion to share the gospel of love, truth, and grace. Each post was carefully crafted and written with purpose for aspiring writers and faith-filled women, and each post contained my hopes, dreams, and a little bit of heartache. It was really great until it wasn’t.
The humble beginnings of social media
My personal story is probably not too different from yours. Because we all use these platforms to connect, share, and grow, with the hope in our hearts that our posts and messages will make a difference. After all, we are created that way (Ephesians 2:10). Therefore, the need to create an account persists. We crave connection and want to contribute to something bigger than ourselves, knowing it will bring meaning.
To be honest, and in full transparency, I have been heavily influenced by online “influencers” and currently have a kitchen full of wooden spoons, glass containers, and stainless steel mugs as a small measure to detox my family from plastic. I also learned how to grow a garden (still a lot of work). I bought a mini trampoline to help with lymphatic drainage and found a natural plug-in that’s perfect for getting rid of nasty pet odors. Oh, and before I officially log off, I found the most amazing recipe for pasta sauce.
Social media is truly amazing. But as believers, these spaces grow deeper as we long to spread God’s love and connect with others by intentionally proclaiming truth in a world that longs for truth. In other words, we strive to be “influencers” to God. Connections and conversations often test our faith, but they also grow us as faithful women, wives, and mothers and challenge us to embrace each season of this life with hope.
So why does social media cause so many people to retreat or completely disconnect? The answer may not be so obvious, but for believers, that decision is often made with a combination of thoughtful prayer and heavy faith.
The enemy is lurking behind the scenes
“Is this platform bringing you closer to God?”
This is a question I’ve felt the need to answer many times. Every time I pick up my phone to the sound of a notification, every time I spend hours doomscrolling, or every time I reach for it out of boredom, this looming question weighs on my heart.
The bottom line is that the enemy likes to hide behind what appears to be “good”. (2 Corinthians 11:14). For example, he would prioritize pride over humility and call it “the growth of believers.” He will keep us glued to the endless reel, claiming that we are gaining insight into social media’s ever-evolving algorithms. He will confuse our objectives and say we need to find an “expert” to give us the answer. He will use online prayers in place of real connections and bring a wave of false hope and joy through covert comparisons. God can and will use anything cloaked in the glow of “goodness” to ultimately deprive us of His true goodness.
When I say this, I want to be very clear here: Satan does not intend to waste his time on the world’s influential people, but he most definitely targets those whose mission is to spread the truth and shine a light on the rich love of our God. Basically, this threat is always lurking behind the scenes, patiently waiting for the right time to lead God’s beloved children astray. It may be by dragging us down a rabbit hole of fear, or by holding our attention for hours through expressive advertisements that often motivate impulse purchases. His motive is to distract, intrude, and twist the truth just enough to play your brain teasers and wear you down and exhaust you.
With the rapid development of AI and high-stakes tensions around the world, social media has become a frenzy for Satan to play with our mental and emotional states. This leads us into very dangerous territory online. We must be aware of the enemy’s tactics, be on guard, and align ourselves with God first.
We must first listen to God’s voice
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, soul, and strength. Sounds very simple. But let’s be honest: loving God with all your might is not easy. This is because human nature is prone to sin and continues to fail. Friends, those who love God with all their being take bold, intentional, deliberate actions and thoughtful choices to know Him, honor Him, commune with Him, and place Him at the center of their lives.
So let’s break this down a little and see how, despite our imperfect human nature, we can first truly tune into God and love Him with all of our being.
First, we need to realize that God defines love and therefore commands us how to love Him and others. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 teaches that love is patient, kind, satisfying, and humble. Additionally, Biblical love is described as respectful of others, completely selfless, and sacrificial. This is how we love God and love others.
In a world that has become so self-centered and has created a selfish definition of love, it is so important that we return to this truth and remember that we love because God loved us in the first place.
We truly love God when we take the time to be present with Him and cultivate sweet intimacy with Him. When we listen to God’s teachings and submit to His will for our lives, it involves discipline and obedience.
When we study the scriptures and dig deep into God’s Word, we love God with all our being. When lies creep in and ransom our thoughts, it’s about taking those truths and proclaiming them into our lives. It seeks God for wisdom and discernment and trusts that His ways are best.
When we walk by faith and seek to surrender our ways, we love God with all our soul and strength. It involves vulnerability and honesty as we stand before God in areas of our lives where we need grace, and the strength to let go of guilt and shame by accepting the precious gifts that give us true freedom.
How does all this relate to social? Once again, we come back to the question, “Will this platform bring me closer to God?”
Signs you may need to break up with social media
Over the past few years, I’ve slowly felt God nudging me to stop scrolling. But I didn’t listen. Have you ever felt a gentle whisper just by putting down your phone and being there? I didn’t ask. After posting something I spent hours writing, deep down I didn’t want to look back for the dopamine rush and validation, but as you can imagine, my heart didn’t listen.
My page may have been a place that brought me great joy, and I pray it will encourage others, but during that time, I was first out of tune with God. And to be honest, I certainly wasn’t giving everything to God. I fell into a pattern of obsessing over algorithms and summaries of the latest news and feeling pressured to be present. Yet, when I became still and quiet and finally listened…God’s conviction was clear. I have made Instagram my idol.
While you may interact with social media differently, as you pause, pray, and seek wisdom on your social media journey, take a moment to recognize some signs and red flags and surrender them all to God. Let God work in your heart and lead you to either set better boundaries around social media, distance yourself a little, or break up with social media altogether.
Warning signs to consider when praying for wisdom:
1. We are in the habit of reaching for our phones and scrolling through social media before talking to God.
2. You ignore real life events, community, and fellowship, and instead isolate and distance yourself from others.
3. Accessing social media platforms can make you feel anxious and mentally drained.
4. The last thing you look at before falling asleep is social.
5. People have been known to glance at their phones or interact with social media during real-life conversations.
6. You want to check your status immediately after posting.
7. Good intentions to “just take a look” quickly turn into hours.
8. Real life is filled with stressors that cause us to seek answers or “zone out” socially.
9. Have you ever been led or easily led down a dangerous or tempting rabbit hole?
10. You are questioning your worth, purpose, or God-given gifts and talents.
11. Social media floods you with guilt and shame.
12. You have ignored or made excuses for the conviction that God has placed in your heart to walk away.
Dear sisters in Christ, we are all meant to be influencers of God. That can certainly be done through social media, but there are many other ways to impact the Kingdom of God. It just begins with a soft heart, an obedient act, and a bold step in faith.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Candy Retriever
Alicia Searle is a dedicated author, blogger, and speaker who is passionate about pouring out her heart and leading women of all ages to Jesus. She has an academic background and holds a master’s degree in reading and writing. Her loved ones call her Mama. So much of her time is spent cheering them on at softball games and dance classes. She’s married to her crush (a tall, spiky-haired blonde) who can make a mean latte. She writes her heart on the page as she sips on the deliciousness while the puppy licks her paws. Visit her website aliciasearl.com and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
