Five Ways to Use Social Media for Good and Not Feel Overwhelmed

I love visiting online with my friends all over the world. But sometimes, it’s overwhelming. Our attachment can be good, really good. But it can also be emotionally too much. Let me explain.

This grandchild is very ill. Another child has cancer—accompanied by a photo of a precious, bald little one. This woman’s husband passed away. A friend lost his wife. A baby dies. I follow a childless couple on their adoption ups and downs. I am overwhelmed. Life is so hard and sad!

And then, there are the appeals for money. Go Fund Me for this cause, that cause—all good causes. Support an orphan, help a cancer patient, help pay for unexpected expenses, support our team effort . . . . It is overwhelming. I can’t. We are already helping people every week.

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by the negatives, the needs, the asking?

I believe there are five helpful steps we can take in order to be effective but not overwhelmed:

1. Limit your connection. Don’t let your phone beep for every social media reaction. Go to social media less—yes, I’m preaching to myself. I find great rest to my soul and emotions when I limit to only checking twice a day. (Radical, I know.)
2. Ask God to help you be discerning in using the money He’s entrusted to you. Decide priorities and boundaries ahead of time. When you can’t, you can’t. If God burdens you and you can, help!
3. As you go through your friends’ posts, pray for them. Pray for each need as you read it. Ask God to bless and for His will to be done in each life and in each case. Social media can help us pray for others.
4. Leave God’s work to God. You cannot heal the world, provide for the world, hug people not near you, or meet the needs in people’s souls. You can encourage them, but only God can do God’s work. There’s freedom in trusting God to meet needs.
5. Praise God and think about good, honest, true . . . . The Bible speaks of thanks as an antidote for sinning. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks (Ephesians 5:1-4). When God gives instructions for our thought life, this is what He says: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

The next time you’re overwhelmed by the needs you see on social media, turn your thoughts to praise. Look for the good, and reject the oppression that can come from empathizing with so many legitimate needs. Pray for your friends, and leave their issues with God. After all, He’s working in all our lives!

God bless you!

When God Redirects Your Path

Many years ago, I would sit and dream: what would my future hold? As a little girl, I didn’t have the maturity to look across the years. So, I dreamed a storybook life for myself. I was always the beautiful princess, and I could spin gold . . . . I could fly! I imagined soaring above the trees. I also envisioned being invisible and living in castles. I wanted to champion a great cause. I was the great Nancy Drew detective girl. My life was an adventure!

And so it has been . . . . No, I’ve never spun gold, but I have soared above the trees and visited castles and places I never even dared to dream about. My life is dedicated to the greatest Cause—honoring Jesus Christ.

Our lives can take turns we never expected:

• A child with special needs
• Cancer
• Moving with your job or the loss of your job
• Abuse
• The death of a loved one
• An accident

We look to the sky and ask God why. Why, Lord? Why me, Lord? How am I going to deal with this?

Think with me about the many people with disabilities, cancer, and other sicknesses who have risen to the challenge. Some of them, with their families, have started support groups, funded research, raised money, and encouraged others suffering in the same way. They’re an inspiration! If they’d never had the problem, they would never have dedicated time and money to help others in this way.

Parents of autistic children, children with Down’s syndrome, visual and hearing-impaired, speech issues, and other challenges get together with other parents. They encourage each other. They develop programs and curricula that will help their children learn and grow and socialize. They understand the challenges, but their children have blessed their lives, and they in turn, bless others.

An automobile accident wipes out a car and maims its victim. Months of rehabilitation follow. It wasn’t expected, yet it happened. Now, this person is stretching and working—along with a room full of others—so that he can walk again. He never would have met those people otherwise. He would never have understood all the work that goes into rehab if he had never had the accident.

A job change means moving to another state—or another country. This means adjustments on everyone’s part: a new school for the children, finding a new church, selling the old house and finding a new one, meeting the neighbors. It may mean learning a new language and culture.

When God changes your direction, when He moves you, how do you react? Of course, if there’s loss or sickness, you’ll go through grieving, pain, and whatever trial is involved in sickness or disability. How will you react to your new situation, your new path? I don’t think anyone knows before he gets there. But, a Christian is prepared when it happens, even though he might not be aware of it.

I know people who are using their personal challenges in these ways:

• A cancer survivor keeps up with other people in her hospital cancer group.
• A man who is in a wheelchair invented a machine for storing a wheelchair in a van.
• Mothers with special needs children write about their experiences and share information and educational helps with other moms.
• A cancer survivor runs 5Ks to raise money for cancer research.
• A victim of a life-changing automobile accident shares her testimony by blogging.
• A couple that lost several babies are writing a book to help other parents who have suffered a similar loss.
• A friend with cancer constantly witnesses to doctors and nurses who are treating him.
• A mother who lost a child speaks to groups and has written a book about how to keep going after such tragedy.

Where are you? Has God altered your path?

Ask Him to help you turn your personal hurt into comfort and blessing for others. Ask God to use you in and through your life situation.

Trust the Lord to lead you:

• For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me (Psalm 31:3).
• Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness (Psalm 143:10).
• Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

May God bless you as you seek to honor Him in your redirected path. You can make a difference in this world!