I love this so, so much! I left all social media behind 6 months ago. I do struggle a bit with missing out but I feel a sense of peace and freedom the majority of the time and I have zero plans to ever join the social media world again. My 18 year old daughter has also left social media recently and feels the freedom to just live her own life without posting it! I love that you’re on Substack!! I’m looking forward to reading more of your beautiful words. 💖💖
I completely understand the reason for leaving social media. Frankly, it can be toxic. I have an Instagram account, but mostly to follow my daughter’s art page. Otherwise it includes a lot of Charles Spurgeon quotes and similar biblical encouragement. :) My Facebook account is similar; I post rarely simply because I don’t feel comfortable with posting just to show off. But I do still follow it, partly because my church family posts announcements there, partly because I follow a couple of local weather pages and devotionals, and partly because there are times my friends - who I know personally - share needs and concerns there that I wouldn’t otherwise hear about. It becomes an extension of the community that already exists.
I know that’s not the norm, of course. I’ve seen the aspects of social media designed to inflame feelings of “not enough” or “better than.” I’ve seen (and removed) the posts encouraging hatred and distrust. But I always appreciate those subverting the status quo by injecting a little reality into the situation. It can strengthen me as I try to live out my walk with God in integrity. To me, that’s a countercultural social media.
Not that everyone has either to do either one, ditch or transform. I figure we follow the Spirit’s lead on what is best in these situations, so it’s not up to me to try to be prescriptive. It’s just something I continue to mull over. I am glad, however, I stumbled across your work (through reading P31 online) and found a sister who seems to be of like mind. Thank you for sharing your heart.
I so resonate with your story, very similar. So thankful for the hope of Jesus. I totally understand the whole social media reason, I go back and forth myself on it. Maybe I will get there and delete like you. Thanks for sharing your story!
I totally agree about social media, is a fake image of what really is happening behind those beautiful pictures. Your story made me think about mine, I grew up in a good family, my parents were very good parents my extended family also is a good family we are all very close and we love to hang out together, and then I married to a person that has a very broken family, with all kinds of disfunctional that I could even imagine existed in life and the worst is that I left my family of origin and my country to come to this, but as always and I learned this through all my years in building a relationship with God that his plan was for me to be here, to learn and build what I couldn’t have done it in my country, and to show this man that he can be related to a big family and be loved
looking for resources as to learn the craft of writing for publishing, do you have any recommendations on how to start telling stories that don’t fit the social media promotion culture, I met you while at Grace Church of Glendora, thanks!
Denise, thank you so much; I’ll start with Andrew LePeau’s book. I wanted to also read your ebook “On Becoming a Writer” but the Amazon link is no longer valid and I can’t find it on Amazon.
I related to so much of this article deeply. It was strangely comforting to read someone else's experiences of familial and relational isolation, especially in the context of raising a family and sustaining a marriage. Community is not just a buzzword, its vital to our individual and family health and well-being. Navigating the 'middle classes' as you say is interesting. I am technically kind of middle class now (education, work experience, where I live etc) but for so many reasons do not identify with the term or social status- not to mention my family background and upbringing being vastly different to many in that bracket.
For the past few years, I would take a social media fast during Lent.
This past Lent, The Lord revealed to me that social media was an idol in my life.
I deleted my FB account(that’s all I have) and I felt so FREE.
There are times I miss certain things, and there are treasured pictures I let go of when I deleted it, but God is worth all of that! There is nothing more important to me than Him.✝️
Denise, Thank you for putting words to my thoughts. As a newly published author, I am tired of trying to promote and build a platform that doesn't feel like me. I enjoy time to invest in my grown children and my grandchildren, to study and write, to have time to sit on the porch with my husband and chat. I don't want to be on social media day and night promoting my book (which I know the Lord called me to write). The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places and I am thankful, (Psalm 16:6)
I love this so, so much! I left all social media behind 6 months ago. I do struggle a bit with missing out but I feel a sense of peace and freedom the majority of the time and I have zero plans to ever join the social media world again. My 18 year old daughter has also left social media recently and feels the freedom to just live her own life without posting it! I love that you’re on Substack!! I’m looking forward to reading more of your beautiful words. 💖💖
“…the freedom to just live her own life without posting it.”
That’s beautiful! A big shout out to your daughter for shaking off the shackles while she’s young❤️🔥❤️🔥
That is a great line, isn't it! Good for her!
I completely understand the reason for leaving social media. Frankly, it can be toxic. I have an Instagram account, but mostly to follow my daughter’s art page. Otherwise it includes a lot of Charles Spurgeon quotes and similar biblical encouragement. :) My Facebook account is similar; I post rarely simply because I don’t feel comfortable with posting just to show off. But I do still follow it, partly because my church family posts announcements there, partly because I follow a couple of local weather pages and devotionals, and partly because there are times my friends - who I know personally - share needs and concerns there that I wouldn’t otherwise hear about. It becomes an extension of the community that already exists.
I know that’s not the norm, of course. I’ve seen the aspects of social media designed to inflame feelings of “not enough” or “better than.” I’ve seen (and removed) the posts encouraging hatred and distrust. But I always appreciate those subverting the status quo by injecting a little reality into the situation. It can strengthen me as I try to live out my walk with God in integrity. To me, that’s a countercultural social media.
Not that everyone has either to do either one, ditch or transform. I figure we follow the Spirit’s lead on what is best in these situations, so it’s not up to me to try to be prescriptive. It’s just something I continue to mull over. I am glad, however, I stumbled across your work (through reading P31 online) and found a sister who seems to be of like mind. Thank you for sharing your heart.
Adrienne, I love that. Thanks for sharing.
I so resonate with your story, very similar. So thankful for the hope of Jesus. I totally understand the whole social media reason, I go back and forth myself on it. Maybe I will get there and delete like you. Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank you, Jenn.
Thank you for sharing. Your honest stories are encouraging.
Thank you, Deb.
High fives to you, Denise!
And I’m looking forward to reading your long form writing… that’s soul nourishing! Thank you ♥️
Thanks, Deb!
I totally agree about social media, is a fake image of what really is happening behind those beautiful pictures. Your story made me think about mine, I grew up in a good family, my parents were very good parents my extended family also is a good family we are all very close and we love to hang out together, and then I married to a person that has a very broken family, with all kinds of disfunctional that I could even imagine existed in life and the worst is that I left my family of origin and my country to come to this, but as always and I learned this through all my years in building a relationship with God that his plan was for me to be here, to learn and build what I couldn’t have done it in my country, and to show this man that he can be related to a big family and be loved
Wow, thank you for sharing. What is your home country?
Mexico 😊
I can relate to much of what you descibe of your and your husband's childhoods, and I admire you all the more! Thank you for your vulnerability!
Thank you, Bobbie.
looking for resources as to learn the craft of writing for publishing, do you have any recommendations on how to start telling stories that don’t fit the social media promotion culture, I met you while at Grace Church of Glendora, thanks!
Hello! I have compiled a list of resources for writers here: https://denisejhughes.com/resources/
Denise, thank you so much; I’ll start with Andrew LePeau’s book. I wanted to also read your ebook “On Becoming a Writer” but the Amazon link is no longer valid and I can’t find it on Amazon.
Ah, yes, I have removed that from Amazon so I can update it. I'll keep you posted. :-) Andrew LePeau's books is a great place to start!
I related to so much of this article deeply. It was strangely comforting to read someone else's experiences of familial and relational isolation, especially in the context of raising a family and sustaining a marriage. Community is not just a buzzword, its vital to our individual and family health and well-being. Navigating the 'middle classes' as you say is interesting. I am technically kind of middle class now (education, work experience, where I live etc) but for so many reasons do not identify with the term or social status- not to mention my family background and upbringing being vastly different to many in that bracket.
Thank you, Ishah. I'd love to hear more of your story.
Terrific piece.
Thank you, Jillian!
Thank you for sharing the stories behind the pictures!
Thanks, Jen!
Hello Denise,
I can relate to your words whole heartedly.
For the past few years, I would take a social media fast during Lent.
This past Lent, The Lord revealed to me that social media was an idol in my life.
I deleted my FB account(that’s all I have) and I felt so FREE.
There are times I miss certain things, and there are treasured pictures I let go of when I deleted it, but God is worth all of that! There is nothing more important to me than Him.✝️
God bless you sister!❤️🙏
That's amazing. Good for you!
Denise, Thank you for putting words to my thoughts. As a newly published author, I am tired of trying to promote and build a platform that doesn't feel like me. I enjoy time to invest in my grown children and my grandchildren, to study and write, to have time to sit on the porch with my husband and chat. I don't want to be on social media day and night promoting my book (which I know the Lord called me to write). The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places and I am thankful, (Psalm 16:6)
I'm so glad, Sandra!