A Christian Response to FOMO

With the changing seasons comes summer. With summer comes vacation. With vacation comes a flood of gorgeous pictures of everyone having a wonderful time. 

And with that flood of pictures comes a nasty medical condition specific to the modern day: FOMO. 

Or, as most people call it, the fear of missing out. 

FOMO isn't pleasant to experience, and I'd bet that most of us know what it feels like. To see a friend or acquaintance having a good time, and subconsciously wish that you were having that good time with them—it's not fun, is it? 

The fear of missing out on fun experiences doesn't seem like much of a problem beyond the discomfort of it. It's like any other emotion: it comes and goes, and though you try to avoid it when you can, there's not really much you can—or should—do about it. 

But the problem of FOMO goes deeper than just an annoying feeling. 

Ultimately, it's a problem of dissatisfaction. 

When we wish we were having an experience that we aren't, and when we're jealous of the happiness that others seem to possess because of those experiences, we're fundamentally dissatisfied with the life and circumstances God has given us. 

We're basically saying, "God, this life you've given me isn't good. Fix it." 

Is this how Christians are supposed to behave? 

No—but it can be really, really hard to avoid that. So, here are two things to remember to fight dissatisfaction in your life this summer. 

 

Remember the present blessings

The best way to fight unthankfulness is—surprise, surprise—to be thankful. 

This is harder than it sounds. How can we be thankful when our mind fixates on everything lacking in our lives? 

But there are actionable steps that we can take to make thankfulness easier. One that I've liked is to actually take out a piece of paper and start listing the things that I'm thankful for. 

In fact, in the process of writing this article, I just wrote my own list. Here's just a few of the entries: 

• That I have a good school to go to
• That I have food and am provided for 
• That I have a good relationship with my siblings
• That I don't have very many health struggles 
• That our church is healthy and has so many wonderful people in it 
• That we have access to lots of books 
• That my friends love the Lord.
  

And the list goes on. By this exercise, I was able to remind myself of how many things I do have that I really don't deserve—God doesn't owe me anything, considering how much I've sinned against him! 

But God still blesses us. Because He's kind, and merciful. 

It's easier to be content when we realize how much we already have. We don't need to be like those people on Instagram or TikTok with their perfect salads and amazing cruise trips—we have enough. 

Our lives aren't perfect. Not all of us enjoy the same blessings. And in some situations, none of the items in the list above apply; the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.

But even in those situations, we can be thankful. Because here's the last item on the list: 

• That Jesus left his perfect paradise to be flogged, humiliated, and killed, so that my sins could be forgiven.

 

Remember the future joy

When you're dealing with FOMO, remember that this world is not our home. 

Someday, all of this is going to be gone. Nothingness. Empty. 

When that happens, where will we be? 

We'll be in a place of eternal peace, rest, and love far beyond anything that we can imagine. 

What does it matter if you can't make it to that party you wanted to go to? Or if your car breaks down, and your beach vacation has to be cancelled? 

All these things are temporary. And any temporary difficulty pales in comparison to the bright radiance of joy that awaits us. 

It's so much easier to go without things now if you remember Heaven. Because, here's the thing—Heaven is infinite. No end. It just keeps going. 

It's so big our brains are too small to process it.

Forever is a long time. Compare that to our own lives—we only have to last what, 70 years? 80, if we're lucky? 

Heaven is coming, friend. Set your will to work at the grindstone of ordinary life, because it's going to be worth it in the end. 

And remember the joy that's waiting for you. It's beyond anything you can ever imagine.

FOMO is a temptation to idolize the things of the world over the things of God. 

Even when the things we're missing out on are good, they don't give us an excuse to be dissatisfied. We can still be content with what we have. 

Because we have more than we need, and we're going to have a perfect peace and rest that will free us from all dissatisfaction eternally. 

So, next time you see a picture that friend of yours has posted on social media, don't become envious. Remember that you've been given more than you deserve, and be grateful. 

May God help us to always be satisfied in Him. 

He knows that's a better place to be.