How to Deal with FOMO as a Christian

Christian FOMO is real!             

If not familiar with the term “FOMO,”     

It’s short for “FEAR OF MISSING OUT.”                        

FOMO is used to describe the feeling of anxiety associated with the contemplation of desired opportunities, of which an individual is unsure if they will experience.                

It’s been normalized in today’s culture; and letting FOMO determine our steps is celebrated, to an extent.               

Naturally, we see FOMO drive people to make some rather hasty decisions.                      

FOMO always triggers a response to step out in fear.                       

From where I stand,     

letting fear drive any decision is never a good idea!             

As Christians, we are certainly not immune to experiencing fear.               

FOMO can very easily slither into the mind of a Christian, who is seeking to let God’s will be done and walk by faith in hope.            

Remember…         

Faith and fear are not two opposing sides of a coin.           

Faith is Neutral!                    

You can either place your faith in what the fear suggests or in what hope suggests.                

So, FOMO is more than an acronym on our graphic tee shirts; it’s a serious spiritual battle.            

I’ve dealt with FOMO in my Christian walk.          

(And still face it every day…)                    

Let’s talk about it!                

How to Deal with FOMO as a Christian!                       

As with any fear, the first thing we need to do is expose it!            

Let’s be honest with Jesus and ourselves about what we have been experiencing FOMO in.                    

If it helps, I’ll share with you something that I’ve experienced FOMO in as a Christian.                 

For me, I feared for so long missing out on a career I could be proud of.       

I didn’t want to just be an associate in a company; I wanted to hold a higher position that was viewed as so necessary and irreplaceable.        

I was always a hard worker, but I wanted to matter in a company and prove to myself that I am valuable. (though, I didn’t know I was trying to prove my worth, at this time.)               

That was success for me…        

FOMO had me chasing after that success; telling me that I will always be discardable and I would never become important, if I didn’t try and climb that ladder of approval.         

 So, I listened to FOMO every day… as a Christian.          

I didn’t learn yet what real success was…            

Then I got some of what I thought was success.         

I had a whole position created for me because I made such a difference in that company.              

I was well-liked and valued by those who held higher positions than me.           

Important and promoted.         

However, I was stressed constantly because so much depended on me.       

Crying every single day; crumbling under the pressure.        

Too prideful to ask for help; I thought it would diminish my value.                 

The weight was so crushing, and I never felt like I was actually successful.      

It didn’t feel as amazing and affirming as I dreamed it would feel.      

So, I thought I had to go higher.          

When I left that company, I applied for higher positions.                

The only job that took me was the smallest position, lowest pay and the least impressive.              

I needed work, so I took this position; fully prepared to stay temporarily, while I continued searching for more impressive positions.                  

Those opportunities just wouldn’t come.          

The temporary work turned out to be a job that I worked at for almost two years.           

I prayed every day, begging God for an exceptional opportunity.        

For my previous position, I mourned.           

I realize now that I was actually mourning the feeling of being invaluable.         

FOMO screamed at me more than ever before.           

I was so afraid that I was wasting valuable time, gaining no impressive skills to illuminate my resume.                

Fear overwhelmed me; pushing me to just leave the job and strive for better opportunities.                

The LORD held me still and had me stay in this valley.          

“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” 
 

Proverbs 29:25 NKJV.            

I never climbed the ladder in this season, but I did gain true success.       

In that place God humbled me and since the position didn’t challenge me, I had all day to talk to Him as I worked.            

These moments are now the most treasured in my story.           

I got closer to Jesus in this season; more than ever before!             

My spirit grew healthier by the day and I experienced so much more peace, deep in my heart; and wisdom by the word of God!         

All while I remained in a place I wanted to run away from.                      

In this season, Hungry Still?™ was first brought to my heart.              

This ministry was conceived in this season where God humbled me!         

He showed me that I was searching for others to confirm my value; when in actuality, my value was sealed on the cross, where Jesus died for me.          

He showed me how important I really am!             

FOMO tried to get me to move out of the season that God intentionally placed me in to show me what real success is!                  

After reading this post, feel free to check out the post I wrote about my success journey!  

THE SECRET TO LIFELONG SUCCESS.              

When I stopped letting FOMO determine my steps, I was humbled so that the LORD could show me that I was chasing the wind.           

The stress that FOMO filled me with, was gone when God showed me that He is LORD over all things and I could trust Him with my life!          

FOMO still tried to push me in different areas of my life, but God has been faithful in every season to help me trust in Him alone.            

Is it difficult?        Yes!           

Does it hurt to put your control and understanding down and trust the LORD?        

Certainly!              

However, I am so immensely glad that I chose to stop trusting what fear told me about my life and I started believing the LORD.            

Countless times God has shown in history and in my life that FOMO leads to emptiness while the FOG, (fear of God) gives pure richness of life.                 

Here are some passages of scripture that help me in seasons when FOMO is trying to provoke me to make my own way in life and stop trusting God.            

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 
And lean not on your own understanding; 
In all your ways acknowledge Him, 
And He shall direct your paths.”          

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV.               

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, 

And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the Lord, 

Trust also in Him, 

And He shall bring it to pass.”            

Psalm 37:4-5 NKJV.            

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord.”           

 Jeremiah 17:7 NKJV.           

“For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”              

Matthew 6:32-33 NKJV.                  

This is How to Deal with FOMO as a Christian!                

So, whether you fear missing out on a career, an education, a marriage, a fun experience or unique opportunity…            

God is GOD, and because He is LORD, you don’t need to worry about making your life work out!               

It will only stress you out and make you miserable, if you try and be the god of your life.       

Don’t waste your life afraid of what you might miss out on, because you will miss what God has put right in front of you, in each moment.                 

Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV.                 

Here is what you are going to do!           

Trade the FOMO for FOG!               

Seek God even more when the waiting, trusting and remaining still hurts.        

Don’t let fear push you to make decisions!         

Remember that God is GOD!         

He is the authority and power over all things, and He happens to love you more than you could ever imagine; So, you can trust Him with your life!                

You are incapable of missing out on the amazing things God has for you!         

“Be still, and know that I am God…”             

 Psalm 46:10 NKJV.