Here is your permission, if you needed to hear it, to get off your phone and step away from your social media. Yes, I know the irony. I am posting this on social media and using a device to even say it. Still, consider this your sign to step away from the screens.
Take a walk. Write a letter. Sit with your family or friends or your pets and actually be there and better yet look them in the eyes and give them your undivided attention. Grow something. Make something. Create with your hands. Get a little dirt under your fingernails again. Open your Bible and linger there. Journal without rushing. If you love to cook, try a new recipe just because it sounds fun. Slow down. And know it is okay to not do anything at all on most days.
It is okay to not know everything that is happening in real time. It is okay to be out of the loop. It is wise to have designated times to be on your devices and to be intentional about it. Ask yourself honestly, do I have a phone or online addiction. For many of us, our phones are necessary for work, school, or communication, and that is understandable. But too much of a good thing can still be harmful.
For sensitive people, especially those who are spiritually aware and pick up on everything, constant input can fuel anxiety, heaviness, and even depression. It can drown out clarity and make it harder to hear God’s voice. The Word reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God,” and stillness rarely lives in nonstop scrolling. Proverbs tells us to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from them, and what we consume daily matters more than we like to admit.
I say this with love and humility, because this is something I am learning too. I am having to be more intentional and more honest with myself. Steward your attention well. Steward your time well. Steward your peace well. If you do not, there is a cost, and many of us are already paying it.
It is okay to be different. It is okay to choose a quieter life. It is okay to not keep up with everyone else or try to know what everyone is doing. Romans reminds us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and sometimes that renewal starts with turning things off.
And honestly, churches, businesses, and schools need to find ways to offer options that are not entirely digital. There are people who choose not to stay constantly connected, and they matter too.
Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to pray. If He needed that space, we probably do too. So if this resonates, take it as gentle permission. Step away. Breathe. Live your actual life. The world will keep spinning, and your soul will thank you.
We live in a time where everything is instant, and we often get hurt or offended when someone does not respond to messages or texts immediately. I have been just as guilty of this. But a text message is not a phone call, and even phone calls are not emergencies by default. I sometimes even get anxiety when someone calls or wants to call instead of text, and I truly believe it is because we have all grown so accustomed to messaging instead of actually talking. You may can relate to this. I miss the days of letter writing and thoughtful emails. Slower communication. More intention. So, here is also your permission to not check your messages instantly and to not feel pressured to respond the moment something comes through. Just do not forget people entirely. Give grace, and receive grace where it is needed.
And hear this too. Not every post, comment, text, message, or phone call deserves a response. Know what deserves your time and what does not. Healthy boundaries are okay. Jesus had them. Scripture reminds us, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no,” and that applies here as well. Know what you are sowing into because it matters! Because in due seasons you will reap it.
Be blessed in Jesus, and have a great weekend. - Bridget
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