Facebook doesn't always tell the whole story. It has become more of a fairytale than the real tale of our lives. I love Beth Moore's quote "Facebook is Fakebook." Just because we see a perfectly posed family picture, a person smiling, doesn't always mean everything is going perfectly behind the scenes. The pictures we see are merely snap shots of what are really going on in our daily lives.
Sometimes Facebook can get the best of me. Everywhere I look there are pictures of perfect skin, perfect makeup, perfect outfits, perfectly plated dinner plates, manicured houses, perfect vacations, the list goes on. I then become disillusioned in thinking, 'Wow everyone has it so together,' then realize these are the deceptive lies of the enemy. If I'm not careful I can fall into his trap of doubting my worth by comparing myself to others or being discouraged that I have not done enough with my life.
I am someone who is not always honest and transparent about what has been really going on in my real life. I would like to be better about posting 'Hey friend I'm struggling today, I could use your prayers, will you pray for me?' Instead I coward to what others think of me for fear their comments of what they will really say. Facebook has become a not so safe place where we can reveal the struggles of our daily lives, for fear of criticism. We can't expose our real battles we face for fear of insults. Or we fear when we expose our vulnerabilities, there will be no where to hide once the flaming arrows start launching?
I'm not saying we should use Facebook as a place to spill our dirty laundry, but as a place where we can feel safe and encouraged; not attacked.
This has made me think what is our purpose in using Facebook and what do we use it for?
Are we using Facebook as someone who casts out the first stone or the one walking away with grace?
Are we portraying lies and fake facades of a superficial life that will never last?
Or are we displaying God's splendor, displaying His fruit that is evident in our lives, in what we post, making it all for His glory? Are we being transparent and real truthful and honest.
How are we really using Facebook? As a weapon of the enemy or an instrument of righteousness for God? Let's find out.
Do we use Facebook to encourage and build one another up? Or leave not so nice comments and cast judgements upon what we see? Or are we silent stalkers who like to look at others posts but choose not to like or comment, but instead make assumptions upon what we only see on the surface?
Do we use Facebook to tell God's story of what He is doing in our life? Or as a facade putting together an assemblance of the appearance of how great our life seems?
Or does Facebook attack our minds? Tempting and luring us to mindlessly scroll through everyone's lives taking us away from what we should be paying attention to?
How does Facebook really affect us? Do we allow the enemy to fill us with his deceptive lies of dissatisfaction? Making us desire more of something we don't have? Making us wish we had the life of someone else?
Or do we try to compete, try to keep up with the Joneses, try to rise above the shouts of the world to be heard, to barely hear the whispers of the Lord?
Or do we compare ourselves to others, allow the seeds of inferiority to be planted, that I'm not good enough because I don't have what so and so has?
Are we being lured into the trap of the enemy, using Facebook as his weapon of destruction? Or are we protecting ourselves using it the way God would like us to as His instrument of righteousness?
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8
Have we become disillusioned in the lies of the Facebook fairytale? Thinking this is what life should be like? I promise you behind every smile, every perfectly posed family picture, there is a struggle and battle that lies deep within, that is merely resting right beneath the surface. Truth is, life is messy. Facebook may not always portray life's messy moments and tell all of God's story.
Next time you use Facebook, say a prayer. Ask God to help you use it for His glory, to pray for those you see who need prayer. Offer a word or two of encouragement. Become an instrument of His righteousness and build His kingdom.
We can break down the walls of the fairytale, build the walls of His kingdom when we tell His story; allowing the author of our stories to shine through our authenticity. Truth is, fairytales never last. God's story is eternal and will never fail. We need to tell the real tale of our lives, to tell God's story. Don't hide behind the Facebook fairytale, allow the author of your story to be known.
When we hide behind the fairytale, how will anyone ever know it is Only God that got us through our trials and Only God that provided? Hiding behind the lies, hides His story He has written, keeping His story hidden in the dark. His stories need to be brought to the light for all the glory be to God! Amen.
We are real people with real problems. And that's okay.
How will you use Facebook this week? As a weapon of the enemy building up the his armies?
Or an instrument of righteousness building up God's kingdom?
Have you been disillusioned in the Facebook fairytale? How or in what way?
What truth has Facebook revealed to you?
I would love to hear how are you using Facebook and how has it affected you? Leave your comments below.
~Heather
No comments:
Post a Comment