The One Thing Everyone Seems to Struggle With and Why This Post is Part of the Problem

Last updated on: January 16, 2018 at 6:42 am by Josh Daffern

The One Thing Everyone Seems to Struggle With and Why This Post is Part of the Problem 2018-01-16T06:42:04-06:00 Josh Daffern

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

unsplash-logoAndrew Neel

If you’re reading this right now, then we’re both perpetuating a problem that is absolutely decimating our nation. I am just as culpable as you are, and I’m trying to figure out how to work through the dangers of what you’re doing right now simply reading this. Let me back up a moment . . .

Over the past several weeks I’ve counseled with several different people in my church for a variety of different issues they’re struggling with. The issues themselves are nothing new: marital issues, anxiety, depression, but that doesn’t lessen the very real pain these people are feeling. As I dig down deeper, there’s something all of these folks have in common, because it’s something plaguing more and more people (and this post is perpetuating that problem, but we’ll get there in a moment). These people are lonely. They have “friends” but no one deep. They don’t have a ‘person,’ someone that knows their stuff and walks through life with them. So when life gets overwhelming as it tends to do for all of us from time to time, these folks are trying to gamely suffer through on their own, and all they’re doing is suffering.

We were not created to do life alone. When we’re alone, the enemy has us right where he wants us, and he can pick us off one by one, and that’s exactly what he’s been doing for years. The first step back to health and wholeness is always the same: community. I counseled all of these people to join a small group, to band together with a group of other Christians to really begin to do life together with other people. The way to find healing, the way to find freedom is together.

And that’s where the problem of this post comes in. You’re not reading this blog in community. You’re not sitting with others and discussing this in a conversation. You’re most likely reading this alone, just as I’m typing these words onto the page alone. You’re reading this on your smartphone or computer, alone. Technology is in some ways helpful but in many ways destructive because it destroys relationships. We’re becoming aware of the dangerous side effects of kids spending too much time in front of a screen, and it doesn’t just negatively affect kids. Technology gives us faux relationships, a blurred copy of the real thing. We shop online, we entertain ourselves online, we can work online, we can even watch church online. The incredible convenience and obvious advantages that technology gives us comes with one glaring disadvantage: technology is driving us away from relationships and towards aloneness. And as years of counseling people as a pastor has burned deep within my soul, when the enemy has you alone, he has you right where he wants you.

So, by all means, read this post. Share it even. You as the audience are the reason I write, and I’m thankful and amazed that a pastor in Mississippi can touch people all over the world through technology. But please don’t neglect real, tactile, biblical relationships. Do life with other Christians. Find a person. Get in relationships. Don’t be alone, and don’t allow technology allow to sell you a false bill of goods that technology is all you need. Technology will never substitute what God actually created us for: community.

Previous Post

January 8, 2018

5 Lessons I Learned From Visiting the Mega Church Down the Road

Next Post

January 17, 2018 4 Things Your Worship Service Needs to Better Help People Know God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Family Matters Ministry in the Trenches Morning Brew MTVpastor New Wineskins Top Menu Truth from Life Uncategorized Watch Sermons

Select a Month June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian holiday celebrates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Epiphany Pentecost Trinity Sunday Advent