Hooray for the algorithm said no one ever. At least that was what I thought until recently. My perspective changed through a strange course of events that brought me encouragement via social media.
It started because I began following Mariner pitcher Logan Gilbert, who I'd learned was a strong Jesus follower. With that move, the algorithm took over. Soon my IG feed was filled with all kinds of posts about major league baseball players who were Christians, memes about trusting God, and young adults who testify that their lives are transformed through Christ.
So, some good can come from social media because my encouragement level went up. Seeing the depth of faith and renewal that these people were sharing gave me hope. Some coming from near suicides to reborn lives. People proclaiming that God is good, all the time.
As you may know, this past year has been extremely difficult for me. While I've never doubted the goodness of God, I have struggled to wade through the challenges and pain. I have sought to abide in Christ and trust even in the smallest steps of faith, but it's been far from easy and I needed some encouragement.
Maybe you can relate. Feeling short on encouragement? Do you have something really big (or even on the small side) that is weighing you down in your life? From parenting dilemmas to difficult life circumstances to your finances to a loss to old hurts that don't seem to go away.
I get it.
While life may never stop hurling uncertainties or unfavorable circumstances our way, we can choose to abide in Christ even when life is tough. Especially when life is tough. Connection to Christ is where the encouragement and courage flows from a wellspring of love that never leaves you alone.
Not that I would have suspected that the Spirit could use an algorithm to send me some encouragement and a reminder that God's work in the world never stops, but why not? When I'm abiding in Him, He is free to use all kinds of tools, people, and touchpoint to make sure I know that His love transforms and showers me with hope.
And as one IG reel by a Savannah Bananas player (ask me later) told me, "May be a reflection of the One who is actually worth following…”.
Amen.
John 15:4 (NIV)
"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."