When Social Media Lies about Loneliness
The conversation at the dinner table was heading in a crazy-talk spiral. I mean, when we start discussing nonsense I can just feel my brain cells dying. Literally, as I’m eating my cold pasta, I feel them burn away into oblivion.
Listening to their conversation, slowly feeding the baby, it hits me hard. Some days I feel snappy and frustrated at the mundane. I am distant and irritable. Sometimes it creeps in slow, making its way into my heart and stays awhile. Melancholy clouds the day. Meal time is always the same.
I flip through social media, hoping to feel better. Maybe I can connect. It doesn’t work. My heart just wants companionship. It sits on my shoulder: a feeling I can’t shake….loneliness, isolation, forsaken.
Social media promises to end the loneliness, because I’m only a click away from someone. Staring at a computer screen or my phone is not the same thing as looking into someone’s face. Its not real life. Social media lies about loneliness and only makes me feel worse. I see the picture-perfect smiles and forget it isn’t real. I see the uplifting scripture and don’t see the cries in the middle of the night. Social media is not the answer to my loneliness. It is not real life. So let’s get back to real life. Here are two steps you can do today to help with loneliness.
Tweet ThisWhen social media lies about loneliness…..
Open the Word
Eight years ago in May I gave birth to my first. As I was struggling with breast feeding failures, c-section regrets, and postpartum blues, I called my mom in tears. I’m so lonely! She reassured me all of my feelings were normal, and then gave me a good dose of perspective. She said, Your baby will not be little for long. Don’t waste this time. Study God’s Word. Dig deeper into His word and learn all you can. Finally, I had something to do. God began to fill me. Emptiness faded a little. I discovered the beauty from being alone. Each day I chose to seek Him, and to open my heart in prayer. I open my mind to His Word. When we lose sight of real life, we can focus on God’s Word.
Call a Friend
Someone needs you just as much as you need them. And it is ok to pick up your phone to text a friend. Email. Send a message to them. Reach out. Ask for prayer and support on the really hard days. Offer to pray for them. Ask them how they are doing. Call someone. Set up a time to talk on the phone. Even if it is five minutes or fifty minutes, speak to someone. Make an appointment today to meet with someone. I can get coffee, lunch, or a park day. Friends are worth the effort. Friendship is worth it for the sake of your heart. Friendship isn’t just for you.
Social media lies. It says you don’t matter. Your life, your job, and your daily mundane doesn’t matter. It says: You are ordinary. But your ordinary is where God is the closest. Lean in during times of loneliness. God is waiting. And maybe someone else is as well.
Your ordinary is where God is the closest{/tweetthis]
Join me as we live in the daily together.
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both excellent tips thanks for sharing have a great week
Thank you so much for linking at #overthemoon! I look forward to seeing what you share every week. Please come back for #WonderfulWednesday or #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Don’t forget to comment your link #’s so I can be sure to visit and you get a chance to be featured! Pinned and shared.
I really enjoyed this post, Sarah. Social media is on my love-hate list. Sometimes it just becomes this numb scrolling while moments of life are lost. I love your tips to fight that craving for companionship with relationship – especially by going to God’s word. As an introvert, I have to balance being with people with my need to be alone. God’s word is my refuel and recharge button. And yes, leaning into those sweet friendships with the people who really get us. Great encouragement here today. Visiting you from #testimonytuesday.
Such great ways to refocus and not let the social media frenzy fed us false truths. I often feel this way and I wonder why because I tell myself I connect with friends on SM all the time, but it’s not the same. Great post! #inteniontallypursuing
What a good perspective. I just recently finished a Bible study this morning that concluded by saying that we weren’t meant to walk this alone, to fight the Christian battle, especially women, we are relational beings and we need the sisterhood. 🙂 Anyway, your post reminded me of that. Thank you for sharing your heart! 🙂
~Haley
YES! We all need each other to keep accountable as well! Thanks for reading.
Thank you for sharing you are heart. I know that I use social media to pass time with boredom and discontentment. I don’t like it either. There is something inside of me that just wants to connect. I need to be satisfied in God and His love for me. Something that I am struggling with and Facebook doesn’t help. lol visiting #tellhisstory #6
Such a sweet post. I know that table talk all.too.well. Oh my goodness. Every night my son started up and goofed off the entire meal, dominating the conversation but non-conversational noises and idiocy. Drove me batty. He never really did start to converse until the late high school years. There is a special crown for mamas who endure dinner time.
I always feel happy when I visit your spot, Sarah! It’s so pretty! Good thoughts on sm.
What an awesome message Sarah that I needed to read as I struggle with as well. I will definitely feature this Tuesday.
Rachel xo
Your ordinary is where God is the closest.
I love that!