Fear Of Missing Out.

My guess is we’re all familiar with the silly acronym and phrase FOMO. It stands for “Fear Of Missing Out” and refers to the anxiety we feel that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere and that we’re missing out. And FOMO is largely fueled by social media.

So what happens is, you see a picture on Instagram, or Snapchat of someone at a party, or an event that you’re not at, or you see someone having some experience that you’re not and you get that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, the longing to be there and experience what others are experiencing.

It may not be happening a lot right now since most of us are largely isolated at home, or at best, braving the grocery store with all the caution of venturing outside during a zombie apocalypse. So FOMO may not be happening as much right now, but I actually think we should feel a little more fear of missing out on something specific right now.

See, if we’re not intentional we run the risk of missing out on an important God intends for us to experience during this season we’re all in.

Here’s what I mean: As further precautions and restrictions are put in place to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19, we continue to lose so many of the comforts we take for granted and find normal. And this forces us to face an uncomfortable truth. You and I were not created to find our peace and security through our circumstances. We weren’t created to find our security through our jobs, our incomes, our favorite restaurants, our hobbies, or even our ability to gather for worship face to face.

We were created to find ultimate peace through the presence of God.

That’s important to embrace because if we don’t, we might make the mistake of just hunkering down and waiting for this all to pass and MISS the chance to enter into a deeper experience of God’s presence that brings true peace and security.

In Isaiah 41:10 God says,

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”

Notice what God does NOT say. He doesn’t say, “Hunker down and I’ll give you back all your comforts and then you’ll have peace.” He doesn’t say, “Just be patient, circumstances will change and then you’ll have security.” God says, “Do not fear, for..

I.

Am.

With.

You.”

So here’s the thing: God’s presence, not a change in circumstance, is the conduit of peace.

I don’t know about you, but I’m praying all the restrictions surrounding this virus lift. I want to be able to gather for worship face to face on Sundays. I want to be able to hang out with friends face to face. I want to be able to go to my favorite restaurants. I want to be able to go snowboarding before the snow melts.

BUT if I seek security, or peace through those things, if I demand God change my circumstances to be ok, I will miss out on one of the deepest realities God wants to teach me, namely that his presence with me is the true conduit through which peace flows.

So, let’s not waste this opportunity, even though it’s scary, difficult and uncomfortable, to experience the comforting Presence of God’s Spirit in a real way. The challenge is, we don’t experience His presence on the fly. We have to intentionally stop and sit with Him. That’s why we’re taking a few minutes to fill our minds with God’s Word each day like this. But in addition today I want to invite you to experiment with another practice.

If possible find a silent spot to sit. Carve out 5 minutes, maybe even set a timer. Take a few minutes to pray. But, rather than bombard God with requests, I want you to focus on controlled and slow breathes. As you take a breath in silently pray, “Father” and as you exhale pray, “You are with me.”

“Father, you are with me.” Just that simple prayer for five minutes. This isn’t some strange spell we say over and over as if there was magical power in repetition. This is a form of contemplative prayer that helps us slow down and talk to God in a way that helps us internalize deep truths we’re prone to blow past.

God’s presence, not a change in circumstance, is the conduit of peace. So let’s pray and ask that He’d make us aware of His presence now.

Father, you are with us. You never leave us, nor forsake us. True peace is not circumstantial. True peace comes through your presence with us. Would you help us walk in a quiet awareness of your presence with us today. In Jesus name, Amen.