I Gave Up Social Media For A Week | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

I Gave Up Social Media For A Week

My fast from social media taught me how to silence the noise that had been consuming my life.

41
I Gave Up Social Media For A Week
Brandon Snider

This week I chose to fast from social media, this includes Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Upon entering church two Sundays ago, our senior pastors challenged the congregation to fast from something our mind wanders and where we spend most of our time with.

The Bible is very explicit about fasting and the reasons in why we should fast. Many passages offer a clear description in how God perceives fasting and the main intentions for it. One example is a verse my pastor used in which stood out to me in Acts 13:2-3

‘“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” - Acts 13:2-3

We can see through this verse how God calls us to fast so that we are prepared spiritually in approaching others with the love of God.

I sat throughout the sermon thinking about what I wanted to fast. The senior pastors gave us examples like fasting from a meal, watching sports, shopping, and social media. I stuck with the idea of social media because like every other 20 year-old, I don’t want to lose touch with society. I wouldn’t say I am addicted to social media for the use of posting and showing off my life through photos and tweets. Instead, I would say I am addicted to the part where I get to see the lives of others. Sometimes this results in jealousy and the fear of missing out in life.

So I walked out of church, encouraged and ready to start the week with no social media. I turned off all my notifications from these apps and went on with my life for the week. Being able to silence the noise in which was crowding my life was refreshing. Although I was confused with what to do with this newfound silence, I began to direct my attention to areas of my life in which had been lacking. Instead of waking up to immediately scrolling through my Twitter and seeing what my friends were up to the night before, I read my daily Bible verse and pondered on it. I also felt like I prayed more through the week bringing me closer to God. The goal of the fasting was to draw near to God and in hopes of God drawing near to me as well.

Fasting from social media turned out to be easier than I had originally thought, and even after the first couple of days, I found myself questioning why I had even bother logging on to these apps and websites. Overall, I enjoyed my week without social media and I felt a sense of freedom from something which kept me held down in my relationship with God. Another takeaway I had from this week has been able to learn how to indulge in the moment with my loved ones around me. I encourage those who are seeking to enrich their relationship with God by stepping away from something that has been consuming your life by fasting. As I end my week of fasting, I reminisce on Isaiah 58:9.

"Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and he will say: here am I.” - Isaiah 58:9.
This is what I strive to for in life, and by fasting, even with it just being social media, I felt a little closer to this.
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

557
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

347
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199313
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20341
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments