Social media seems to have taken over the world in the last few years. 90% of millennials use social media daily, with averages at 1-2 hours a day. I see this especially in my own life as my world often seems to revolve around social media platforms (mostly facebook and instagram). I’ve always been one of the last of my friends to get on the newest technology and social media feeds, and yet, I see a problem in my own life. Social media can quickly become an idol that we worship as god, give our best time to, and believe gives us life, rest, and fulfillment.

But it doesn’t.

I remember getting an Instagram account and my first iPhone my senior year of college. I know, a little late to the game, but I really loved my little flip phone! I knew my friends were tired of having green messages on their phones and there were a lot of new, helpful things that iPhones did that my little flip phone could not. So, like any good millennial, I gave in and got the iPhone…and along with it, Instagram.

Both of these things have been wonderful parts of my life and have made life a lot easier in so many ways. I don’t have to have a GPS system in my car because my phone has one. I don’t have to keep a paper calendar because my phone has one. I don’t have to live close to my best friends to see what their lives are like because of Instagram. I can keep track of my runs and workouts easily. I can also store music and podcasts in one place, and everything is on one device! There are clearly a lot of benefits…plus those beautiful blue messages that started showing up on my friend’s iPhones 🙂

Yet, over the years, social media has become something that I find myself running to in times of boredom, insecurity, and unfilled desires. It’s easier to run to distractions than it is to just address the problem.

And I think I have a problem. I think we have a problem.

The problem is that we are missing out on life that is happening right in front of us because we are so consumed with capturing the best picture, attaching the most accurate taglines, and accumulating the most likes. And maybe this isn’t your problem, but it is mine.

I’ve found myself desiring to have the best picture, with the filter that makes everything look absolutely perfect, and then adding a clever caption to really seal the deal on those likes. And this always leaves me still wanting and never satisfied.

So with that, I am taking a break from social media. It will be deleted from my phone and my phone will begin to function more and more like a good old fashioned flip phone. And I’m really okay with that.

I’m ok with deleting something from my life that 90% of my friends have because I know there is something better for me. That thing is more of Jesus. And more of life. I know that God has a bigger purpose for me than to spend my life comparing myself to others, seeking more little hearts on Instagram, and trying to post the most clever captions I can think of. I know this because God tells us of a better life, and that is one spent with Jesus.

So this year, I want to spend more time with Jesus, more time doing the things He has made me to do, more time being the person He created me to be and wants me to become, and more time around the people He has placed me with. There is simply more to life than likes.

And friend, there is more in life for you too.