Not the Only One

"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." -1 Peter 5.9

We all live in a world at war, but in our digital age it's very easy to forget that everyone faces battles. This is a concept that, thanks to social media, I had struggled with for years. When I was a young pastor of a small church, life was hard. I was constantly discouraged, emotionally, spiritually, and physically drained, and I never wanted to talk about my job. And then you enter the world of Facebook. You're surrounded by a news feed of people taking trips, buying homes, having kids, living a perfect life, and then you feel worse. I remember telling an older pastor in the area who was a constant support and encourager "I feel like I'm struggling up Mount Doom alone, while everyone else is enjoying the Shire." (Lord of the Rings reference in case it doesn't click). That is what social media does, it highlights the good, erases the negative, and everyone else's life looks perfect while you live in your own depressing reality. There is scientific research supporting all of this, do a Google search for Social Media Depression.

The reality is, everyone else has their struggles, their hardships, and their battles, it just isn't publicly announced on Facebook, or Instagram since that seems to be the new thing (I still haven't really figured it out, but you can find me there at phalanxministries if you're interested). No one has a perfect life, the enemy is looking at everyone, seeking an opportune moment to attack, and everyone experiences suffering in this world. You have your battles that you are fighting, and so does everyone else.

As we go through life, facing the struggles that come everyday, don't give in to feelings of self-pity, adopting a victim mindset; that gives the enemy another opening to attack from. If you feel alone in your struggle and that you're the only one suffering, you are less likely to reach out for help. If you feel like everyone else is perfect, that can lead to discouragement and depression, causing you to distance yourself form others out of jealousy or resentment. Lions attack the animal that is separated from the rest of the group, and if we buy into the lie that everyone else has a perfect life, we begin to pull away from those we need most.

I spend less time on social media these days, part of me wants to get rid of all of it, and simply create accounts for the ministry I'm working on starting, which I did with Instagram, but I'm not there just yet. I've realized that everyone has their struggles, and as rough as the last few years of my life have been, there are people out there who have it a lot worse than I do; I'm fighting my battles, but there are those out there who are fighting more intense battles than I can imagine.

You are not the only one who is suffering attacks of the enemy, and the very fact that you are fighting the enemy is a good thing, the fact that you are being attacked means you're doing things for the glory of God; the enemy doesn't go after those who don't pose any resistance to him. Keep your head up, and keep fighting. Know that you don't battle alone, and that there is no shame is seeking help for your fight. At the same time, be on the look out for those around you that you can offer your help to in their fight.

We are the only ones who are under attack, so let us band together, and fight the enemy as a single, solid unit. A phalanx of warriors, with God as the foundation (Psalm 16.8).


Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!