Dr. Stephen Phinney: The present-day cultural movement of followers, likes, and comments presents significant temptations for authentic Christian believers.
I love writing but hardly get any interaction on my posts and it’s beyond frustrating—makes me not even want to write bc feeling hopeless is not a motivator at the end of the day. Interaction through likes and comments IS key to creating more. Likes and comments DO translate into validation and we all need validation to motivate us to create more—just a fact of life. If nobody liked and commented on your posts, how motivated would you be to keep writing into the void? Substack has been so demoralizing for most writers, unless you are a big wig on this platform being paid by the Substack overlords (that’s a whole other story).
Whitney, many of us get that! I have learned that writing into the void is like fishing. We spend hours with our line in the water, fully baited, and come home with one fish—and at times, no fish. At the end of the day, we asked ourselves if it was worth it. Years ago, in my prayer time, Yeshua/Jesus asked me, "Is one enough?" Hesitantly I responded, "yes." Whitney, today you are my "one," my single fish. Remember, you have one writer who knows your struggle and is beside you fishing as "fishers of men."
I totally get this. I've seen things come in waves. Something might spark interest and you see some interaction and other times you might go a month and wonder where everyone is hiding. If I looked at just my notes and social media (Facebook and Instagram) for likes on my posts, I better not hold my breath. However, I have a handful of people that randomly like and even respond to my posts. I'd say I have 1% engagement. I keep on writing because I know God put it on my heart to do so and I've been shown how a couple of seeds grew out of my effort. I have to keep believing, praying, and make sure I redirect myself if God says so. This morning including talking with God about the funk I'm feeling and it might be in part that I just need winter to end. :)
I have also written articles of how absolutely broken and the absolutely sinful chaotic utter mess I completely became & was before Christ Jesus, the mental nut case I used to be plagued with psychosis and demon infested, that it was only in Christ did I found healing restoration deliverance from demons, from satan and his kingdom of darkness, reconciliation, salvation, sanctification, and he broke me of self, of all pride, of self confidence, self reliance, self assurance, self dependency, by actually helping in killing self and making me put it to death in and through him, having been crucified in him died and buried with him and to the world, to be crucified to it and it to me, and how it had so desperately tried to mould, entice, influence, control and conform me into it's mould, what it wanted me to be, and tried to define who I was meant to be, and satan having blinded me, it was only in all the truths of Jesus Christ and found in him whom revealed himself to me & thoroughly humbled me to the very floor to beneath the floor, and thankfully broke me, my life and my heart completely & clay earthly vessel apart, to understand I was nothing and He everything, that was the only way he could come into effectively dwelling inside of me, & giving me my absolutely true identity in him & to conform me more and more daily into his image and likeness, character and nature's.
I have also found most people don't want to engage with someone in the depths of utter despair all the time, and when I was made a new creation in Christ he gave me the skills and tools in how to overcome rather than be overcome by out of control overpowering emotional states of mind, that would of before plunged me into psychosis, depression or even suicidal tendencies and psych ward. I'm not that person anymore and I think and praise heavenly father for that and He taught me not to wallow in self pity or stay in defeat, but how to instead develop the mind of Christ Jesus and cast down all imaginations and every high thing & knowledge that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus. Also I write in obedience to heavenly father that's all, not for likes, attention,responses etc and I honestly genuinely couldn't care less if people read what I write or don't. I have been writing for years without anybody reading anything, so doesn't really affect it bother me. It's just another day to exalt & bring all glorify to father in heaven.
Though I do appreciate if what heavenly father puts upon me to write helps and encourages someone else and they respond to me of course it's deeply heart affecting and arresting and you see how heavenly father utilises his honourable vessels of other brothers and sisters to bring encouragement and his encouragement ultimately through them, and it is truly wonderful when what has been written has reached the person that heavenly father needed & intended to reach, and I'm pretty much not up to par concerning all the other things the technical things you have mentioned so don't fully understand all you have kindly covered in those areas. Totally evades me and clueless. Apologies Stephen.
Also would like to state I can't read everyone whom is on Substack each and everyone's articles. And I'm very sorry that I can't. It is humanly impossible. Of course we are drawn to different articles etc, and I also pray and ask heavenly father to lead me to whom he requires me to bless and encourage as well. When I first came on here I used to read over 200 articles over many months, and would try to leave comments on many of them and did and be encouraging, or ask questions or whatever was being promoted to do so, and indeed be writing what heavenly father would put upon my spirit to share adrees and write, but maintaining reading over 200 articles and writing just became overwhelming and overly time consuming and honestly just could not sustain it.
"Authentic Christian fellowship is built on deep, meaningful connections" completely agree, and that takes putting in the time, effort & consistency and the willingness from both parties, trust also has to be developed through allowing the passage of time, yet honestly I have not found that to completely happen or be entirely successful through the medium of the internet alone, or even here on substack. And yes, I do take the time and energy in also being prayerful and thoughtful & holy spirit led in my responses especially in comments to others, hence why they can be long. But this can also get tiring, as your dealing with pretty much strangers, so your setting aside and devoting time in bringing this person before heavenly father and how best to respond, support and meet their spiritual emotional etc needs, and I also have to get on and be doing real life and in my own relationship with heavenly father & in serving others where I live and reside and just getting on with everyday life.
There also can be barriers, and of course wisdom dictates in not to cross the lines of between a spiritual sister and brother, especially to those married. Even just with other sisters whom can contact on just messages, I have had them contacting me without reading any articles which I honestly couldn't care less, but then they may ask me questions that have already been covered in the different articles, that admittedly can get frustrating, sometimes as well it can be a minefield to navigate, as I used to be so trusting even in my normal daily real life, but have had to become more guarded as Heavenly father teaches to put into practice His divine wisdom, and it is also highly dependant upon the individual whom is contacting and sending the messages as well.
Yes we can offer profound encouragement, gain beautiful heartwarming upbuilding encouragement as well from the hearts of others through their comments, which is deeply appreciated, incredible, and fosters joy, praying for others, especially through writing these out, proactively blessing others and their needs, meeting those needs & through interacting & engaging with them wether that be via comments and through messages on here, and It can also be a possible springboard to enable to then meet others in especially one's own country. But it's not the same as a face to face interaction or real life consistent friendship in real time & space.
A timely reminder and I can definitely relate to this. I had a chat with God this morning because I'm kind of in a funk wondering if where I spent a bunch of money last year is where I should have done so because I would have preferred to do something this summer that I can't now. Of course, God could move and make that possible. I just have to keep doing what he is telling me to and stop letting a long winter trigger anxiety over things I can't change.
So many 'helpful' messages these days are trying to point me at worrying about the numbers, when I should care about the handful of people that interact with me through my writing. God put me here for them and more will come when they are supposed to. Therefore, I prefer the write for the one you truly want to reach method. You'll have your niche with a small but interact tribe.
I love writing but hardly get any interaction on my posts and it’s beyond frustrating—makes me not even want to write bc feeling hopeless is not a motivator at the end of the day. Interaction through likes and comments IS key to creating more. Likes and comments DO translate into validation and we all need validation to motivate us to create more—just a fact of life. If nobody liked and commented on your posts, how motivated would you be to keep writing into the void? Substack has been so demoralizing for most writers, unless you are a big wig on this platform being paid by the Substack overlords (that’s a whole other story).
Whitney, many of us get that! I have learned that writing into the void is like fishing. We spend hours with our line in the water, fully baited, and come home with one fish—and at times, no fish. At the end of the day, we asked ourselves if it was worth it. Years ago, in my prayer time, Yeshua/Jesus asked me, "Is one enough?" Hesitantly I responded, "yes." Whitney, today you are my "one," my single fish. Remember, you have one writer who knows your struggle and is beside you fishing as "fishers of men."
I totally get this. I've seen things come in waves. Something might spark interest and you see some interaction and other times you might go a month and wonder where everyone is hiding. If I looked at just my notes and social media (Facebook and Instagram) for likes on my posts, I better not hold my breath. However, I have a handful of people that randomly like and even respond to my posts. I'd say I have 1% engagement. I keep on writing because I know God put it on my heart to do so and I've been shown how a couple of seeds grew out of my effort. I have to keep believing, praying, and make sure I redirect myself if God says so. This morning including talking with God about the funk I'm feeling and it might be in part that I just need winter to end. :)
I have also written articles of how absolutely broken and the absolutely sinful chaotic utter mess I completely became & was before Christ Jesus, the mental nut case I used to be plagued with psychosis and demon infested, that it was only in Christ did I found healing restoration deliverance from demons, from satan and his kingdom of darkness, reconciliation, salvation, sanctification, and he broke me of self, of all pride, of self confidence, self reliance, self assurance, self dependency, by actually helping in killing self and making me put it to death in and through him, having been crucified in him died and buried with him and to the world, to be crucified to it and it to me, and how it had so desperately tried to mould, entice, influence, control and conform me into it's mould, what it wanted me to be, and tried to define who I was meant to be, and satan having blinded me, it was only in all the truths of Jesus Christ and found in him whom revealed himself to me & thoroughly humbled me to the very floor to beneath the floor, and thankfully broke me, my life and my heart completely & clay earthly vessel apart, to understand I was nothing and He everything, that was the only way he could come into effectively dwelling inside of me, & giving me my absolutely true identity in him & to conform me more and more daily into his image and likeness, character and nature's.
I have also found most people don't want to engage with someone in the depths of utter despair all the time, and when I was made a new creation in Christ he gave me the skills and tools in how to overcome rather than be overcome by out of control overpowering emotional states of mind, that would of before plunged me into psychosis, depression or even suicidal tendencies and psych ward. I'm not that person anymore and I think and praise heavenly father for that and He taught me not to wallow in self pity or stay in defeat, but how to instead develop the mind of Christ Jesus and cast down all imaginations and every high thing & knowledge that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus. Also I write in obedience to heavenly father that's all, not for likes, attention,responses etc and I honestly genuinely couldn't care less if people read what I write or don't. I have been writing for years without anybody reading anything, so doesn't really affect it bother me. It's just another day to exalt & bring all glorify to father in heaven.
Though I do appreciate if what heavenly father puts upon me to write helps and encourages someone else and they respond to me of course it's deeply heart affecting and arresting and you see how heavenly father utilises his honourable vessels of other brothers and sisters to bring encouragement and his encouragement ultimately through them, and it is truly wonderful when what has been written has reached the person that heavenly father needed & intended to reach, and I'm pretty much not up to par concerning all the other things the technical things you have mentioned so don't fully understand all you have kindly covered in those areas. Totally evades me and clueless. Apologies Stephen.
Also would like to state I can't read everyone whom is on Substack each and everyone's articles. And I'm very sorry that I can't. It is humanly impossible. Of course we are drawn to different articles etc, and I also pray and ask heavenly father to lead me to whom he requires me to bless and encourage as well. When I first came on here I used to read over 200 articles over many months, and would try to leave comments on many of them and did and be encouraging, or ask questions or whatever was being promoted to do so, and indeed be writing what heavenly father would put upon my spirit to share adrees and write, but maintaining reading over 200 articles and writing just became overwhelming and overly time consuming and honestly just could not sustain it.
"Authentic Christian fellowship is built on deep, meaningful connections" completely agree, and that takes putting in the time, effort & consistency and the willingness from both parties, trust also has to be developed through allowing the passage of time, yet honestly I have not found that to completely happen or be entirely successful through the medium of the internet alone, or even here on substack. And yes, I do take the time and energy in also being prayerful and thoughtful & holy spirit led in my responses especially in comments to others, hence why they can be long. But this can also get tiring, as your dealing with pretty much strangers, so your setting aside and devoting time in bringing this person before heavenly father and how best to respond, support and meet their spiritual emotional etc needs, and I also have to get on and be doing real life and in my own relationship with heavenly father & in serving others where I live and reside and just getting on with everyday life.
There also can be barriers, and of course wisdom dictates in not to cross the lines of between a spiritual sister and brother, especially to those married. Even just with other sisters whom can contact on just messages, I have had them contacting me without reading any articles which I honestly couldn't care less, but then they may ask me questions that have already been covered in the different articles, that admittedly can get frustrating, sometimes as well it can be a minefield to navigate, as I used to be so trusting even in my normal daily real life, but have had to become more guarded as Heavenly father teaches to put into practice His divine wisdom, and it is also highly dependant upon the individual whom is contacting and sending the messages as well.
Yes we can offer profound encouragement, gain beautiful heartwarming upbuilding encouragement as well from the hearts of others through their comments, which is deeply appreciated, incredible, and fosters joy, praying for others, especially through writing these out, proactively blessing others and their needs, meeting those needs & through interacting & engaging with them wether that be via comments and through messages on here, and It can also be a possible springboard to enable to then meet others in especially one's own country. But it's not the same as a face to face interaction or real life consistent friendship in real time & space.
A timely reminder and I can definitely relate to this. I had a chat with God this morning because I'm kind of in a funk wondering if where I spent a bunch of money last year is where I should have done so because I would have preferred to do something this summer that I can't now. Of course, God could move and make that possible. I just have to keep doing what he is telling me to and stop letting a long winter trigger anxiety over things I can't change.
So many 'helpful' messages these days are trying to point me at worrying about the numbers, when I should care about the handful of people that interact with me through my writing. God put me here for them and more will come when they are supposed to. Therefore, I prefer the write for the one you truly want to reach method. You'll have your niche with a small but interact tribe.