Not Everything Needs an Audience

Most of us have had that moment where everything feels fine—until it suddenly doesn’t. You’re going about your day, answering texts, getting things done, feeling steady. Then you open social media. One scroll. One post. One update. And just like that, your mood shifts. Nothing in your real life changed, but something inside you did. That’s often how the heart gets worn down—not through one big moment, but through what we repeatedly take in.

Scripture speaks directly to this. Proverbs 4:23 says, “guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” The heart is the starting point. What fills it eventually shows up in our thoughts, our words, and the way we see ourselves and others. One of the most necessary ways we guard our hearts today is through social media.

Social media isn’t all bad. It can connect, inspire, and encourage. But it can also quietly pull us into comparison, insecurity, and distraction. We see highlight reels and start questioning our own lives. We absorb opinions we didn’t ask for. We measure ourselves against curated moments and feel behind without knowing why. It’s easy to think we’re just “checking in” when, in reality, we’re letting our hearts take on more than they were meant to carry.

Over time, I’ve learned that guarding my heart often looks like sharing less. I choose to keep more moments private. Not because life isn’t good—but because not everything needs an audience. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have social media or post online, there is power in sharing certain things (and honestly, that’s probably how you found me). But I do believe some moments are meant to be kept for yourself. Take my wedding, for example. You won’t find it fully online. Sure, there are maybe four photos I’ve shared, but the overall day—the feeling, the energy, the moments that mattered most, you won’t find those anywhere on the internet. They don’t exist there. Hunter and I decided early on that we wanted that day kept for ourselves and our family. When I really thought about it, I asked myself... what do I gain by sharing my wedding online? The answer was simple—nothing. I understand the curiosity. People want to see the bride, the dress, the groom… so that’s what I shared. But beyond that, posting more would’ve opened the door to opinions, comparisons, and scrutiny. We did this. We didn’t do that. The flowers looked like this... blah, blah, blah. And I didn’t want that. Protecting that day wasn’t about secrecy—it was about peace. Honestly, one of the things I admire most about my husband is that he’s offline. No Facebook. No Instagram. No TikTok. Nothing. He has a LinkedIn—and even that, I manage for him. He lives fully present, untouched by the constant pull to post, compare, or explain his life. And there’s something incredibly peaceful about that. Watching him has reminded me that access is a choice. Attention is a choice. And guarding your heart sometimes means deciding how long you scroll, who gets to see what, and who doesn’t.

I didn’t disappear or unplug completely. I just created boundaries. I share intentionally. I scroll less. I step back when I feel comparison creeping in. I remind myself that a quiet life can still be a full one. Guarding your heart with social media doesn’t mean disengaging from the world. It means being honest about what shapes you. It often looks like...

• Limiting how much time you spend scrolling

• Muting or unfollowing what disrupts your peace

• Resisting comparison when it creeps in

• Choosing presence over constant updates

• Asking God to help you discern what to take in and what to leave behind

A guarded heart isn’t closed off—it’s anchored. When we’re intentional about what we allow into our minds, we create space for truth to be louder than noise and for God’s voice to be clearer than the scroll.

SHE Walks in Faith

Pause today and ask God to show you how social media may be shaping your heart. Invite Him to help you set boundaries that protect your peace and keep your focus rooted in Him.

• Moments you don’t need to share

• Accounts that stir comparison

• Habits that pull you away from presence

• Voices that distract from truth

• Time better spent resting with God

🩷 Prayer

God, help me guard my heart in a world that constantly asks for my attention. Teach me to share wisely, rest deeply, and choose presence over performance. Help me protect what is sacred and trust You with what remains unseen. Amen.