Social Media Fast (aka A Wilderness Journey)

Well friends, it’s that time again.

It’s time to step away and recharge.

But this time, things are a little different.

This time, I sense Him calling me to go away with Him.

On a journey.

A wilderness journey.

I’ve had the thought so many times since school started back in August…

Something’s gotta give.

I asked Him what it was, but I didn’t get a clear answer (but let’s be honest, I probably wasn’t listening very well.)

Well, last night, I heard the answer loud and clear.

And I didn’t like it.

I fought it. I whined a little bit. I teared up telling the hubs.

I thought about keeping it to myself and not telling anyone, that way I wouldn’t have to follow through. Cause if I didn’t tell anyone, then I wouldn’t have to worry about accountability! Ha!

He asked me to “give up” social media and blogging for…a while??

I fought back when He first mentioned it because these are two super important things to me. They’re two of the things that consume a lot of my “free time.”

So wouldn’t it make sense that these are the two very things I need to submit to Him?

Ughhhhh!!!! It makes “sense,” but that doesn’t mean it’s easy!

Holy Spirit pretty quickly revealed two roots in my heart that needed to be pulled up and thrown out: the root of pride and the root of feeling irrelevant.

But He did it in the sweetest, most loving way.

Because a few days before, I’d spent time in Hebrews (chapter 12) reading about the Father’s way of discipline and correction.

The author of Hebrews writes that discipline is a mark of son ship.

We discipline our children and the children in our close-knit communities; we don’t discipline a stranger’s child because we don’t know them.

In the same way, discipline from our Heavenly Father is a sign that we are His children and it’s a family matter.

So, He didn’t reveal these roots to shame me, but instead, He revealed them because He’s a good Father.

I’ve felt pride rising up in me off and on while blogging over the last couple of years - prideful that I’m so consistent while other “bloggers” haven’t posted in a year. Or, feeling prideful because I refuse to miss a week (even when I could have spent that time with my husband or Holy Spirit.)

I’ve also recognized the root of feeling insignificant and irrelevant if I’m inactive on social media and my blog.

What if I lose readers or followers? What if people forget about me? Will the friendships I’ve cultivated online fizzle out if I’m inactive for a season?

Y’all He is so good. He had an answer for every single question I threw at Him.

He reminded me that my validation, reputation, and true friendship are ONLY found in Him.

Holy Spirit gently asked what would be left of OUR friendship if everything public was stripped away. What is special and sacred just between us?

Ouch.

These aren’t fun things to admit.

BUT!

There is so much freedom in saying them out loud and laying them at His feet.

he leads, we follow

Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
Hosea 2:14
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever…to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1, 16
Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Psalm 78:52-53
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.
Luke 4:1-2

Noah and his family spent 40 days of solitude in the ark.

Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on top of Mount Sinai with God.

Elijah spent 40 long days walking towards Mount Horeb to meet with Him, too.

Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil right after He was baptized.

He leads.

He guides.

He allures us into the wilderness.

He did it for Noah and Moses and Elijah and Jesus.

I’m trusting that HE will lead me, too.

One of the things the Father said to me was, “The wilderness doesn’t have to be a barren place.”

We don’t have to be running on “empty” to need more of Him.

Are you with me, friend?