As I spent time on social media, I began to feel a weight of expectations for my own life to match the life I was seeing of others. The more I strived to have the life I was seeing on social media, the less content I became and I began to question everything about myself. Finally, my husband called me out and I decided to fast social media and take my discontentment to the Gospel. Within a few days, I quickly realized that the content I was seeing seemed so scripted. Where was the authenticity? The more I prayed through my struggles, I felt the challenge to, in fact, live more "scripted", which brought me back to this blog I had created months prior. Except the “scripted” life I desire is one that is less scripted for likes and followers and more rooted in the Scripture—the Gospel, so that what I share with the world reflects the hope I profess, the grace I’m dependent on, and the glory of the Lord. As I prayed, I realized I wasn't the only person out there who desired this authenticity. I desire for this blog to be a safe place where others can come, just as they are, for genuine connection. I don't have it all together and I am tired of trying to. There is beauty in the simple, yet purpose-filled life. Grab a cup of coffee and stay a while. I pray that the Lord uses the words He gives me to encourage and give you hope along your path.
I knowSeveral days ago I came across a quote from Tony Evans that said, “To miss your kingdom assignment because you have become too caught up in your personal kingdom itself is the greatest tragedy you could ever face”. I have not been able to get the quote out of head. Every time it comes to mind, one-word bounces around in my spirit—known.
I remember days before social media. I remember Facebook when you had to have a valid college email address to sign up. And, I remember the day that all changed. My friend Whitney and I were sitting in our dorm room when she received a friend request from young person that went to our high school. The world as we know it had changed, but we had no idea just how much change would come. The world would become consumed with what others were doing. More so, the world would become consumed with telling the world what they were doing—consumed with being known. We want people to know what we have for dinner or when we get our nails done or how we dressed our kids that day. We want to tell people how frustrated we are in the checkout line at Wal-Mart or how the sunset looks or make sure we share this quote or that meme. Before I continue, I am NOT insinuating that any of these things are bad. People have used social media for a type of connection with others (even though I believe it has taken away the art of conversation, but that is another post for another day). Social media shares parts of the lives of others that we might not know if we still only had a landline or AOL instant messenger (AOL profiles did not glamorize our lives quite enough—if you know, you know). We want to be known to someone, anyone. We want to feel validated. Something inside us shouts more, more, more with every ding of a like or comment or share. Yet, we still go to bed feeling empty and we wake up anticipating what news feed activity we missed while we were sleeping. Our days begin with searching to know what others are doing or seeking to be known by others and our days end in either a sense of completion or failure based on the same. I am not sure that are brains, or our spirits were created for constant input. There are so many articles about how people are more unhappy now than ever before. I truly believe that part of this unhappiness is because we are worn slap out from striving. Even those with the purest intentions of social media have experienced a sting or two at the expense of its constant known ness. Today I waited in line for 30 minutes-HALF AN HOUR-for my husband, a Mata’s pizza. He’s asked for one since, well, the first day they closed down because of COVID and it being the week of Father’s Day and the week they opened back up, it felt like a good gift to him. As I sat in the drive thru, I could not stop hearing the word. Known. KNOWN. K N O W N. Then the whisper, “But you are known. I know how many hairs are on your head. I have searched you and know you. I even know the parts you don't want to share and still desire to know you more. I died so that you could be known by my Father in Heaven”. I miss it every day. The fact that this place is not my home. I spend more hours than I care to admit concerned with being here for the sake of being here. Which is not why I am here at all. I want to be known more for how I lived and loved as it concerns the cause of Christ. As heard in a Kari Jobe song, “The only thing I want in life is to be known for loving Christ. To build his church, to love his bride. To make his name known far and wide”. I will not take my list of likes or followers with me when I meet Jesus face to face. He will see my life beyond the screen. Did my life beyond my profile follow him? Did I carry Jesus around like an accessory? I am challenged to operate more from a place rooted in the truth that God knows me rather than the earthly desire to be known by others. I believe it will change my mindset in the mornings and my interactions with others as I seek to make Him known through the life, He has entrusted me with. This life is more than being known to the world by your words or actions, its making Him known to the world by your words and actions.
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Hi! I'm Morgan.Follower of Christ. Grace dependent. Wife. Mama. Homebody. Archives
July 2020
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