(photo credit: http://www.gosimplysocial.com)
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not
destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of
Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
Girlfriends,
I just finished a morning perusal of my Facebook newsfeed. I have to share
these reflections with you because I feel so strongly about this message. Some
of you have sworn off social media for the very reason I am going to talk about: Seeing everyone else's perfect life makes you feel inadequate about your own
life. I get it. I understand why you deleted the Facebook account or Instagram;
however, I would like to offer a different solution. One that I think could
revolutionize our lives rather than tear them down with attacks on self-esteem. I suggest we share the other side of our lives on social media...the dark side. Play Paul Harvey and tell "the rest of the story..."
So to keep me from becoming conceited because
of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the
flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he
said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that
the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am
content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For
when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Social
media. Facebook. Instagram. Twitter. Snapchat. What's App.
Girlfriends,
I love that we all post the fun and smiling pictures of our good times.
I receive great joy from your joy. I laugh at your funny stories and jokes. Your children
and grandchildren warm my heart. I feel connected to many of you that live so
far away, or live close but busyness keeps us apart.
Yet,
ladies, very rarely does anyone post a picture of themselves or a loved one in
pain, or injured, or crying, or depressed, or anxious, or struggling. I am her
today to say: Do NOT let social media fool you!
NO
ONE has a perfect life!
WE
all HURT.
WE
all STRUGGLE with something.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that
suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character
produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been
poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
We
like to put up brave fronts and hide the pain for many reasons, but the
unintended consequence is that everyone thinks we have it all together. "Oh, her? Yeah, she has the best life. The perfect family. The dream job. She is always going somewhere fun. She doesn't know what it means to struggle. She must never work. She has so many friends. Everyone thinks she is great. Etc. Etc. Etc."
As a result, one begins to wonder and have doubts about her own life.
STOP HIDING, my friends.
BE REAL.
Post the rest of the story sometimes. Speak your hardest truths. Bring it to the light, because you know what? It is
freeing to be in the light. Darkness is draining and harmful. Satan lurks in
the darkness, whispering lies to you that take a foothold in your mind and
soul.
YOU
ARE NOT ALONE!
Yes, our
happy moments are what get us through the days most of the time, and it is great to
share them. But let's be real, friends. Our lives are not all smiles,
successes, and vacations. WE cry. WE fail. WE work and labor and struggle. WE lose. WE hurt.
I
love that my oldest daughter is not afraid sometimes to share her pain openly. She did
not ask for an incurable pain disorder in the entire left side of her body
(CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.) She is a victim. Yet even she often hides
it, like we all do, because she doesn't want pity. She wants to be "normal"
and treated normally, but reality is--she is not "normal" anymore.
She has to find a new normal, and just when she finds it, life shifts again and
"normal" blows away in the winds of change. It is NOT weakness to
share your pain, to bring to light the demons that haunt you. Strength is in
found in the prayers of the people of GOD, but we cannot pray for what we do
not know about one another.
Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God
of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able
to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's
sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
2
Corinthians 1:3-5
Likewise
the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we
ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because
the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans
8:26-27
I
challenge, you my friends, this week...this month...be REAL, be TRANSPARENT on your social
media. Share your joys and good times, but turn on the light in the closet and
share the struggles you have hanging there too. I would love to pray for you
this week. And I boldly ask for prayer for my daughter, Joslyn, as she pushes
forward in the "new mom" life, all the while battling the searing
pain of CRPS in her body. Pray God will remove the pain from her body if it is
within His will. We know He has the power, but we also trust in His greater
plan that only He sees; therefore, please pray that God will empower her in every way to tend to
her newborn, whatever His will may be. Pray she will hold on to every word in
His Scripture, every promise He makes to use our experiences and trials on this
earth for a greater glory in eternity.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he
increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall
fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be
weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah
40:29-31
Girlfriends,
God is good. He already knows your pain. He gave you brothers and sisters in
Christ to help you bear it, share it, and use it to encourage one another in
Christ. Step out of the darkness into the light. Continue sharing your
blessings and good times on social media, but do not be afraid to boldly state
the pain and hardships so they may be covered in prayer. Ask God to guide you.
And remember, you are loved through the good and the bad times, the beautiful
and the ugly moments, and the highest or lowest points of your life journey.
God is with you--everywhere!
When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm
you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall
not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2
He will wipe away every
tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be
mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation
21:4
