Restoring Your Soul - The Three-Day Social Media Reset

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” (Psalm 23:1, NLT)

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12, NLT)

C. S. Lewis said, “The soul is but a hollow which God fills.”

How is your soul, really? When we don’t care for our souls, we can fill the hollowness with endless scrolling, toxic relationships, overeating, drugs, alcohol, shopping, TV shows, movie marathons, and any other addiction of our choice.

Maybe social media has made you feel anxious, sad, envious, like a stranger to your life, or like you are wasting the precious borrowed breaths God has given you. God is “the fountain of life” (Psalm 36:9), the fountain we are thirsting for. He stands ready and waiting to restore your soul in a way this world or social media never will. He wants to fill the emptiness in your heart with His presence, which leads to life, peace, and the fullness of joy.

THE MESSAGE interpretation of Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28 says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me, and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Jesus wants you to live freely and lightly in His presence, to keep company with Him, to walk in the rhythms of grace, and to receive a real rest. But how can we keep company with Him in a virtual, pixelated, artificial world among hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people? We weren’t made to watch strangers’, acquaintances’, celebrities’, influencers’, or even our friends’ lives unfold in perfectly curated filtered photos and fifteen-second video clips.

More of this world, more of social media, and more of self isn’t working for us. Jesus wants to give you an abundant life and renew your weary spirit. But to allow Him to do so, you must unfollow the ways of the world and follow His ways, which will lead to peace. You must shut out the digital world’s noises and distractions and find refuge in His presence.

What does your soul need in this hour, this season? What is it searching for? You might not feel like you can bring your burdens to anyone, but you can bring them to God. You might not feel like you can be your real self and share your real struggles and real emotions, but you can be real before God. He’ll never block, mute, or unfollow you.

Run away from the chaos of the world and its worthless distractions; run to Jesus and keep company with Him and let Him restore your soul and give you real rest.

Reflect: What are the burdens of your life that you need to bring to God?

Pray: God, thank You for promising to restore my life and renew my soul. Help me to turn away from the distractions and chaos of this world and find refuge in You. Teach me to keep company with You, put on Your rhythms of grace, and live joyfully in Your loving presence.