It may seem like a silly label associated with immature and socially undeveloped people who need more time to grow up, but this is something that is having an effect on an increasing number of age groups, and its effects are very real.
Two of the main symptoms of F.O.M.O. are experiencing an overall sense that ‘everyone else is experiencing and/or doing something that is better than what I’m experiencing.’ And the other symptom is a growing sense of sadness and frustration, even depression. What this leads to is an incredibly distracted life that causes people to genuinely struggle with self-engagement and healthy personal relationships and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction with life.
This all sounds very clinical, doesn’t it? Maybe you are wondering why a pastor is talking about this at all? Does F.O.M.O. have anything to do with a person’s spiritual health and relationship with God?
I think that the God of the Bible understands human nature pretty well. And I also think that He has a pretty decent working knowledge of the things that we can stumble into that hurt us over time.
In Proverbs 13:12, it says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” F.O.M.O. is the fear that you are missing out on things, and so, for many, the answer is to try to connect more and more (usually through social media) with the hope that it will meet the longing to be fulfilled. But this effort proves unsuccessful in any lasting way and leads to a sick heart.
I want to say clearly that this breaks the Heavenly Father’s heart! His love for every human being that bears His image (which is everyone, by the way...) leads Him to action that would satisfy every heart that is longing and hoping for more.
Here are the words that come straight from God Himself to a world that is increasingly frustrated and fearful of missing out. “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” (John 3:16 from The Message Bible)
Is it time for you to consider that the fear that drives your life, motivates your decisions, causes you to experience frustration and heart-sickness, can be dealt with in a way that you may never have considered before? Maybe it’s time for you to consider putting your trust in Jesus as your answer? Maybe He is exactly what you have been looking for, longing for, hoping for?
The really great news is that He is waiting for you to come and live life with you. Invite Him in. He won’t disappoint.
Pastor Brian Tysdal, Strasbourg Alliance Church.
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Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer.
