The Unfiltered You

How many times has this happened? You are out to eat with a group of friends and someone suggests a group photo. Everyone gathers around and smiles as an innocent bystander captures the moment. As everyone huddles around the phone to see the snapshot it is immediately decided that the picture needs to be taken again. Now the poor person who volunteered to take the photo becomes a slave to the group for the next several minutes of retakes until at last a decent picture is taken.

Toxic comparison

Now I’m a gal who loves taking photos to capture memories with friends. I can appreciate the need to strike the right pose, have a perfect angle, and snap a photo in the best lighting. However, for many girls that is the only priority.

“Oh no, I look fat!”

“Ah, I wasn’t smiling”

“Eww, I don’t like my teeth”

These and multitudes of other woes escape the lips of young women the world over after taking a quick pic with friends.

Why is that? The truth is this generation is so concerned with the outward. Online appearance, likes on Instagram, and using the right filter. Is it possible we have forgotten what our heavenly Father thinks of us- that we are worth the life of His Son? That we are precious in His sight?

1 Samuel 16:7

For the LORD does not see as man sees; for a man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

The growth of social media

When social media was first introduced in 1997 it was primitive as all new inventions are when they are created. However, after the dawn of the twenty-first century, social media has grown to astounding proportions. Close to 5 billion people use social media worldwide, with over 300 million of that number being Americans.

When I was younger the original concerns about social media had to do with safety. Stranger danger over the internet and too much screen time for adolescents. Over the years the inherent problems with social media have evolved into something much greater. These days social media is where we all go to break the 10th commandment- covetousness.

The world gets to see other people’s “perfect” lives and see what they are missing out on. Vacation in the Bahamas, the newest Louis Vuitton bag, the hot boyfriend, or a girl with the perfect body shape.

Perfect?

While Social media can make everyone’s life seem perfect (except yours), the truth is that it’s all smoke and mirrors. In reality, the "effortless perfection" look, takes boatloads of effort. People rarely post without some sort of filter or editing. Never is the first picture perfect. Never is it real.

As I said before, I understand the desire for your photos to be pretty and polished, but they can never be perfect, because we aren't perfect. No one is. No matter how hard you try or what kind of front you are able to display, you are not perfect, and, surprise, neither are all the people you follow on TikTok.

Our identity through Christ

We have lost sight of true beauty and where that beauty comes from. As Christians, our worth comes from God. He created each of us uniquely and perfectly. Not perfectly like Jesus was perfect, without sin, but perfectly YOU.

Psalms 139:13-14

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

God created you just the way He wants you. He created you for a unique purpose, for Him. Our generation has been indoctrinated by the mindset that true beauty and "perfection" come through filters, makeup, camera angles, or clothing. It must break God’s heart to see how we, His wonderfully made creations, have forgotten that He loves us just the way we are for who we are. The truth of the matter is that true beauty comes from within and it can’t be seen in social media posts.

Be unfiltered

So I challenge you, be unfiltered.

Stop trying to be perfect or better than someone you follow on Instagram. Embrace the One who created you and His love for you. In this fake world be genuine!

Try this, only post unfiltered and unedited photos for a month. Or do a social media fast, offload all social media apps for a while, and use that time to focus on God. Read His word. Pray. Spend quality time with family or in person with your real friends. Do something that is edifying to your walk with Christ and to your soul, rather than spending time on apps that break you down causing you to wish you were someone that you’re not.

Remember your worth. We are children of the King of Kings.

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.