Finding Freedom in the Pause: Why Your Soul Needs a Social Media Sabbath
Exploring Week 2 of Grace in the Gray: Grace in the Digital Age
When was the last time you went an entire day without checking Instagram? Or scrolled through Facebook without that familiar knot forming in your stomach? If you're like most of us, it's been a while—maybe too long.
This week in our Grace in the Gray devotional journey, we're diving into something that might feel a little scary but incredibly necessary: Grace in the Digital Age. And friends, I'm going to be honest with you—this week's challenge to temporarily step away from social media might be exactly what your soul has been craving.
The Digital Noise We Don't Even Notice
Our Mirror Message for Week 2 comes from Philippians 2:3-4: "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."
Here's what hit me as I was preparing this week's content: how can we truly value others above ourselves when we're constantly consuming curated highlights of everyone else's life? Our social media feeds are algorithmically designed to keep us focused on ourselves—our reactions, our comparisons, our need to respond and engage and perform.
But what if, just for a week, we removed those filtered lenses and learned to see others (and ourselves) through God's eyes instead?
The Sunday Reset That Changes Everything
In Week 2 of Grace in the Gray, we invite you to try something radical: The Sunday Reset. Here's what it looks like:
Temporarily uninstall social media apps (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn—you know your vice)
Keep only essential communication tools (texting, email, phone calls)
Notice and write down how you feel immediately after doing this
I'll be honest—when I first tried this exercise while writing the devotional, my thumb automatically went to the spot where Instagram used to be on my phone about fifteen times in the first hour. Fifteen times! I had no idea how automatic that behavior had become.
But here's what happened next: instead of that familiar scroll through perfectly curated feeds, I found myself actually present in my own life. I noticed my boys playing in the backyard. I had a real conversation with my husband over coffee without the distraction of notifications. I picked up my Bible instead of my phone during those in-between moments.
The Freedom You Didn't Know You Were Missing
What I've discovered through this practice—and what so many in our SisterHood community have shared—is that stepping away from social media doesn't just give us time back. It gives us ourselves back.
Think about it: when was the last time you had a thought about your day, your struggles, or your joys without immediately wondering how it would translate into a post? When did you last sit with a feeling without the urge to share it, perform it, or curate it for public consumption?
The digital detox isn't about demonizing technology or pretending social media doesn't have value. It's about creating space to remember who you are when no one is watching, when there are no likes to count, when your worth isn't measured in comments and hearts.
Grace in the Gaps
Here's something beautiful I've noticed: when we remove the constant noise of social media, we start hearing God's voice more clearly. Those little nudges to text a friend, pray for someone specific, or simply be grateful for the ordinary moment in front of us—they become louder when they're not competing with the chaos of endless content.
One SisterHood member shared that during her social media break, she found herself naturally reaching out to friends through actual phone calls instead of just liking their posts. "I realized I had been substituting heart emojis for real connection," she said. "Taking that break helped me remember what genuine friendship actually feels like."
Practical Grace for Your Digital Life
If a full week feels overwhelming, start smaller. Try these gentle steps:
Morning Grace: Keep your phone in another room for the first hour after waking up. Use that time for prayer, journaling, or simply being present with your family.
Sacred Pauses: Before posting anything, ask yourself: "Will this build others up? Does this reflect the grace I've received from God?"
Evening Boundaries: Set a phone curfew. Let your family know that after a certain time, you're fully present with them.
Weekend Reset: Choose one day each weekend to step away from social platforms and focus on in-person connections.
The Ripple Effect of Digital Grace
When we approach our online presence from a place of grace rather than self-promotion, something beautiful happens. Instead of broadcasting our achievements, we find ourselves celebrating others' victories. Instead of curating our struggles, we create space for authentic connection. Instead of performing our faith, we simply live it.
The goal isn't to become a digital hermit. It's to learn how to show up online in ways that reflect the grace we've received from God—speaking truth in love, building others up, and creating space for genuine community even in virtual spaces.
Your Invitation to Freedom
This week, I invite you to join us in the Grace in the Gray journey. Whether you take a full social media sabbath or simply practice more mindful engagement, pay attention to what happens in your heart when you create space between yourself and the digital noise.
You might discover, like I did, that the most refreshing thing isn't a new post or the perfect selfie—it's the freedom to be fully present in your beautifully imperfect, grace-filled life.
Ready to experience grace in the digital age? Grab your copy of Grace in the Gray at gather_hood.com and join thousands of women discovering freedom in the pause.
What would it look like to extend the same grace online that you long to receive? Let's find out together.
Hannah Chiaramonte is the founder of GatherHood and author of Grace in the Gray. As a mom of four boys and ministry leader, she understands the challenge of finding authentic connection in our digital world. Connect with her on Instagram @gather_hood (when she's not taking her own social media breaks!) or join the SisterHood community for deeper fellowship and growth.
