I appreciate social media because it brings people together. I love that I can keep up with so many friends and know about your daily lives, even though we don’t see each other very often. But there is a downside to the constant sharing. 

Sometimes, when I scroll through my newsfeed and see all of your cute kids, I think about how it must feel to a person who is struggling with infertility. 

Sometimes, when I read the encouraging and inspiring memes, I think that they might seem like trite words to someone going through the deep waters of suffering. 

Sometimes sharing our best experiences of life may provoke sadness to those struggling with loneliness or financial limitations. 

This week, with the Valentine’s Day flowers and dates filling up our newsfeeds, I thought about how it might feel for someone who is missing a valentine this weekend. For someone who may not have a valentine, who may be struggling in your marriage, who perhaps recently broke up with someone you thought you loved, or who has struggled with God’s plan for you in singleness, I am sure this weekend is not easy to scroll through. 

I am not saying people should stop sharing their lives and posting about their experiences through social media. I am just acknowledging the different ways our sharing can affect our various friends. 

I feel compelled to share a few words to those of you who may have had a hard weekend.

If you did not get a Valentine’s Day dinner, Jesus says: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

If you did not get a Valentine’s Day poem or love song, God says: The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

If you did not get a love letter, God says: Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Isaiah 49:14

No flowers? God plants instead: At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself. I will show love to those I called “Not loved.” And to those I called “Not my people,” I will say, “Now you are my people.” And they will reply, “You are our God!” Hosea 2:23

The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3