Social media can color our minds with images of everyone’s best moments, making it easy to lose sight of what’s important.
I scroll along my social media feeds on my phone during moments of idleness and catch myself thinking, I wish I had a house like that. What a great trip. I wish I was there. I wish my significant other was like that. Viewing our lives through the lens of scarcity instead of through a lens of gratefulness and abundance is easy.
God doesn’t want us envying others or basing our self-worth on how we fare when compared to others.
“Be strong” is a command. God knows troubles abound in life. He knows we will feel fear because of our circumstances. However, He inspires us to be strong in the face of adversity, because He is in our corner. In God we can find the patience, humility, fortitude, and security necessary to prevail.
Collins dictionary says “take heart” means to have more courage or to cheer up. The psalmist teaches us God is good and has our best interests in mind, despite what we may see around us. We need to muster the courage to trust in God and have faith in His plan. God is faithful and loving and will stand by our side.
“All you who hope in the Lord” is an invitation to seek comfort in the Lord. God’s strength and abiding love is available for all of God’s children. As the God of abundance, we are all able to draw from His strength, which has no limit.
In times of trouble, we can put up notecards as reminders to pray first about any issues that crop up or keep a daily or weekly journal directly addressing God. We can take courage while trusting in the character of God by taking quiet time for reflection or by going over the names for God, letting descriptions of His character sink in.
We can also fast from television and social media to help break the hold culture has over our thoughts. Instead, we can devote that time to reading encouraging materials or listening to uplifting music.
Life can throw you a curveball at any time, so let leaning on God—rather than social media—become a habit for you.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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K.A. Wypych is a Christian writer, speaker, and athlete who inspires people to courageously persevere through challenges to reach their big dreams and better their lives. She has been published in numerous articles and devotionals. Wypych is currently under contract with Ambassador International to publish her book, Ten Iron Principles. The book is a Christian living memoir about perseverance and salvation through playing football on a boys’ junior varsity team and her road to the Ironman triathlon. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and works as a surgical physician assistant in Baltimore. You can follow her at www.kawypych.com.