When I received an email from a publisher that fellow author, Wendy Speake, who’d endorsed my book, sought reviewers for her latest release, I jumped on the chance to return the favor. And when I found out her book was titled, “The 40 Day Social Media Fast”, I was even more enthusiastic. Lately social media had become less of the joy I initially signed up for and more of a dark hole I had fallen into.

My 40 day fast, turned into a 65 day one—I think I needed longer than most people. Just about each day, I read one of Wendy’s short chapters, then opened my Bible to read in context, the Scripture she listed to begin each day’s reading.

The Upside

I deleted Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter off my phone. But something telling happened after I did so. Even though the tiles no longer existed, my fingers instinctively went to the “Social Media” block on my iPhone where they used to sit, which revealed to me how habitually I checked social media.

As a result of the fast, I had my phone in my hands less and talked with my kids more; I was happier because I didn’t take a seat on the emotional roller coaster known as “Facebook”; and without the minutes wasted on the mindless scroll I’d unknowingly grown accustomed to, I was much more productive during my day.

The Downside

But there was a downside to this fast too.

I missed connecting with my friends and family I don’t see on a regular basis. I’m sure there were tons of updates on jobs, kids, and the rest of their lives that now I don’t know anything about—but all the more reason to send a personal text or phone call to check-in.

Another downside of this fast was that I enjoy using social media to share my heart and perspective on day-to-day topics—it’s richly rewarding to my soul. I especially appreciate interacting with people who comment on my posts. But an abstention from these fulfilling experiences allowed the Holy Spirit to throw something my way I might not have caught had I had my phone glued to my hands.

What I Learned

Prior to this fast, I was quick to judge people online who did not think as I did, especially with regards to the pain of 2020 and Covid-19, politics, and race. I would see their posts, sum them up, then discard them like I discard my son’s athletics socks—into the clothes hamper with disgust and a turned-up nose.

As I scrolled, I might “like”, “love”, or simply agree in my mind, with people who aligned with my feelings with regards to masking up or Trump or George Floyd. However, I would give an internal eye roll followed by an external frustrated sigh to those who didn’t agree with me on the same topics.

But as the days turned into weeks during my fast from social media, I slowly realized I was less annoyed with people. Those I used to angrily think about after seeing their posts, now I hadn’t thought about in weeks. Or if I did think of them, my feelings were surprisingly positive, even though I assumed their ideals hadn’t changed.

My Unrighteous Throne

In, “The 40 Day Social Media Fast”, Wendy says, “…what we focus on becomes our worldview. It shapes what we see and how we see it—who we are and how we live. Through that lens, we interpret everyone and everything around us.”

Before this fast, I narrowly saw people through one lens, as either followers of one particular political leader or followers of the other. And since this seemed to shape how they thought about everything else newsworthy, therefore, they were either with me or against me.

I stood on a moral high ground, watching them from above as I doled out judgmental thoughts from my unrighteous throne. And sadly, I chose not to see them as they are—passionately pursued and loved people of God.

To see others as passionately pursued and loved people of God aligns me with Jesus. Do I disagree with them? Yes. But should I write them off? No. Why? Because Jesus doesn’t. When has He ever given up on anyone over anything? Has He written off the politician I disagree with the most? No. Did He write me off when I aligned myself with myself, before aligning myself with Him? No. Thank God no. And signing on as His image bearer, signs me up to live as He does.

Maybe like me, you struggle with the anger that rises into your throat when you see someone post here something politically ridiculous on social media. You are even more saddened when the person is a close friend. You feel deeply hurt and consider unfriending them completely or sending them a message to tell them how wrong they are and how right you have become.

I think you and I should stop and scrutinize our hearts very closely when we feel these strong emotions. Could we be viewing our world through the wrong lens? When our anger rises so high, we contemplate unfriending someone because they disagree with us, maybe the subject of the disagreement has become our idol.

An emotional fast from the friend or a fast from social media altogether might be most helpful. To find time away to ask God to seek our hearts and show us where we are wrong, instead of pointing our judgmental finger. Because if we sit on the throne of our lives, where does that leave God?

Breaking My Fast

I will soon break my fast and consume again the fodder of social media. But this time I will do so with knowledge of my temptations and a desire to do it differently. I will keep the social media apps off my home screen, forcing myself to swipe right to search for them. When they are more difficult to get to, I won’t get to them as often.

I also plan to fast from social media again, and hopefully on a regular basis. Unplugging from Facebook will help me plug into the truth of what God thinks of people, so I can realign with Him and how I’m supposed to live—a person desperate to make Him famous.

May our worldview be shaped by God’s worldview, not a politician’s. May we become more enamored with having God on the throne of our lives, than having ourselves there. And may we not write others off when they disagree with us but see them instead as passionately pursued and loved people of God.

For the fame of His name.

Like me, do you struggle with judging people from your social media “throne”? I’d love to hear from you…leave a comment below!