I had been praying for nearly a year about growing discontented while being so “connected”…

God created me as one who needs down time-time to withdraw from the world to connect with His spirit, to ponder and ask questions and to walk quietly with him every morning.

As my social media presence grew, so did the distraction. Here’s the thing: I bought into the lie that if I wanted to be significant, if I wanted to be an author and signed by an agent or a publishing company, I needed to grow this presence. But, God made us so beautiful and whole. We already have all that we need to complete His plan here on the planet. His desire for each of us is to fully live while we are here and be fully present with the people in our lives and the people we encounter each day.

I bought into the lie that if I desired to touch more lives and grow a ministry, I must continue on this social media cycle, like a hamster running on a wheel. I started with a simple blog in 2007, then a website. Next, I opened a Facebook account, then a Facebook Author account, next an Instagram, Pinterest and an author platform on Amazon.

Then there were the Facebook private groups that I started for people reading my workbooks, prayer groups and a self-care group. The social media platform kept growing and I continued to be only one person. Suddenly, I started feeling completely drained and lacked inspiration because my mornings with Jesus…my renewal time was time now spent catching up with all of these avenues, answering messages and e-mails, creating new content and praying with people.

In the years that I have been blogging, writing and maintaining social media, we have lost friends and loved ones, said goodbye to family pets that crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, endured sickness, disease, loss and heartache. My husband almost died when he bled internally after a simple, outpatient procedure. We have lost my mother in law, my father in law, my step-father in law, three aunts, my mother had a stroke and we have an adult daughter with a rare and disabling condition. But the social media continued. It continued not only as a distraction but became in and of itself a distraction.

I began to pray for clarity. I asked God to help me know which way to go, as I felt responsible for the spiritual care of my readers. To many, I had become a spiritual mentor or a spiritual mother. The ministry kept growing and growing and I  continued to be only one person running a great big platform.

The thought that we must DO all of these things that society tells us we “must” do, is a lie. The lie is meant to deceive us into believing that somehow, we are not enough. It is meant to make us believe that God is not enough. The chitter chatter of social media can distract our hearts from being wound up intricately with the heart of God. It can make us believe that busyness is better than stillness. 

Peace comes after we take a leap of faith. Peace comes when we listen to the voice of God, even when it feels scary. Peace comes when we rest in the knowledge that no matter what happens, God has a plan for us.

So, one morning a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in my kitchen sipping a cup of tea and the Lord spoke to me. A sudden peace washed over me and I knew that He was directing me to eliminate most of my social media. With a desire to be completely obedient, I quickly let my Facebook friends know in a post that I had made this decision.

Following God when people do not agree with the word He has for us is always difficult. Changing directions is difficult. Not knowing where a new direction will lead  is always difficult but I am reminded of a few Bible verses:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“For we walk by faith, not by sight”. 2 Corinthians 5:7

“Out of the anguish of his soul, he saw and was satisfied”. Isaiah 53:11

Every single time I have been obedient to the Lord when He has asked me to do a difficult thing, I have grown leaps and bounds in my walk with Him. I am excited about His direction for my life, even though I may not see the blueprint yet.

I look forward to walking in the garden with Him each morning and writing from my tiny writing shed this summer. I know I will draw nearer to Him as I work in the garden and catch my breath, and see Him in the eyes of my daughter as I care more delicately for her needs. And I am so excited about new insight and wisdom that I will share here, in my upcoming book projects and on my Patreon page.

Thank you for being part of my journey for all of these years and for allowing me the GRACE to step back a little bit and bathe myself in what God has for me and the ways He will use me to draw you ever closer to Him.

Don’t ever get so busy looking down that you forget to look up! God has a plan for you.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.