Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 

The world lost one of its biggest smiling faces, and most loving people, when one of my sorority sisters lost her battle with ovarian cancer this weekend. Her personality was the larger-than-life type, and as I flip through college photos, she’s the center of each picture with her arms extended wide, and smile beaming across her face, as if she were screaming, “I LOVE LIFE!”  I'm filled with deep sadness over her loss, despite not seeing her in about 17 years. Sadness for the two young daughters she left behind, and the many, many family and friends who loved her; and sadness for letting long distance dampen a friendship that’s now placed on a permanent hold.

Her story isn't mine to tell, but I will speak of the amazing strength and courage she posted about on Facebook throughout her battle. Many of her posts spoke about how she was knocked down to her knees, afraid and scared, yet always, always, she said her faith still stood in God, no matter where this horrible disease was taking her. Her unshakeable faith shone through the way she continually pointed to God and His plan.  Each time I went to my knees in prayer, I prayed not just for her, but to have such great strength and faith for myself.

Again, we weren’t close in recent years, so I’m limited to what I saw on Facebook. I can’t help to think of all the lives she touched with her incredible faith, and trust in God. I'm reminded of the impact other people’s posts about God had in my life when I was far from my faith. Each time someone posted about their love for, their relationship with, or their faith in God, it brought me one step closer until I was finally back at His door where He’d been waiting for me all along.

Social media gets a bad reputation (many times for good reason), but I’ll always be thankful that it's kept me in touch with friends from long ago, and that the Holy Spirit gently nudged me to pay attention to friends’ posts about God in their lives.

When those people affected my life so tremendously with their posts about God, it all started because they felt led to write the post and hit the submit button. Their obedience helped save my life, and many other lives I’m sure.

My friend wasn’t healed of cancer because of her posts or even her faith, but, whether she knew it or not, she helped those who love her heal through her battle and loss.

I rarely feel led to post about God via social media, but other paths exist; take this blog post for example. What are ways you are feeling led to share the impact God has in your life? In what ways can you give others the same strength and courage you have found in Him? Don’t discount the value of your posts. You may help others heal through them, just as I have.

Verse to study: Philippians 2:1-4

Shannon Ensor