Plugged-In

by Brandy Webb

There is a lot of desire these days to unplug. Today a lot of us are connected to our many devices. In fact, it is hard for me to go at least an hour without checking my email, getting online to “research” something, social media, or news, or… The internet is like a black hole. You plug into it and time is just sucked away. What seems like five minutes ends up being an hour wasted. So, it does seem like a good idea for our mental health and well-being to unplug more often from the internet.

However, there is another type of “plugged-in” that we should do to increase our mental health and well-being. We need to make sure we are plugged into the ultimate life source, the only thing that can truly empower us, the only true source of all things positive, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

I realize I waste a lot of time online, and I don’t give God enough time. I should start my days, every day, plugged into God. The days that I do plug into Him, first and foremost, are days that go very well. Joy and strength are there throughout my day, even if I face a trial. The days that I do get my priorities correct are days that prove Isaiah’s teaching in 40:29-31:

        He gives strength to the weary,
              And to him who lacks might He increases power.

         Though youths grow weary and tired,
              And vigorous young men stumble badly,

        Yet those who wait for the LORD
              Will gain new strength;
              They will mount up with wings like eagles,
              They will run and not get tired,
              They will walk and not become weary.

Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are our life source. They give us Godly energy through their Holy Spirit, which equips us with the strength to go on day by day. Without them we will become weak and fruitless. Jesus tells us, “‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing’” (John 15:5). I want to bear Godly fruit. I do not want to wither like the fruitless fig tree. Therefore, I need to make sure that I stay plugged into the only thing that can fully strengthen me, and limit being plugged into the things that suck the life out of me. 

We have all heard that too much of anything is not good for us. Well, there is never a way to be plugged into God “too much.” There is, however, being too much unplugged from Him, and that is definitely not a good thing. We must strive to plug into Him daily, so that He may renew our strength.

    But blessed are those who trust in the LORD

        and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.

    They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

        with roots that reach deep into the water.

    Such trees are not bothered by the heat

        or worried by long months of drought.

    Their leaves stay green,

        and they never stop producing fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8