Y’all. Seriously. Please.

Before you post something online, please stop for a second and ask yourself if this is the kind of post that will promote fear in people.

Are you posting a picture of empty grocery store shelves? Are you alarmed about how fast the virus is multiplying AND POSTING ABOUT IT, or posting ANY sort of negative statistics at all?! Are you shrieking about how many people have died? Are you reprimanding people for attempting to find joy and humor in the face of scary times?! Are you sharing a link to some alarming news story that includes ANY scary words such as,

IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE!!!

Good gosh, y’all. STOP. IT.

HOW IS THAT HELPING ANYONE, OR BLESSING ANYONE’S LIFE?

Are you being a BLESSING, or an additional BURDEN on people right now? People who don’t have the HOPE that we have, and are already terrified? Because they are, you know, and imma go ahead and tell you that YOU FEAR-MONGERERS ARE NOT HELPING.

The thing about the “statistics” is, you have NO IDEA if the statistics you’re posting are even accurate. What if it’s a lie? And YOU are spreading it?

You complain about how the mainstream media works people up into a frenzy, and then you contribute to the work they’re doing.

The spirit of fear is NOT FROM GOD.

The spirit of fear is NOT FROM GOD.

Love casts out fear, and if you LOVE people you will not promote FEAR in people. If you LOVE PEOPLE, you will help them be LESS AFRAID.

God didn’t give us a spirit of fear.

You know who did? SATAN.

That’s right. Every time you promote FEAR, you’re siding with Satan.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

Philippians 4:8ish, The Message

Meditate on it, and post THAT on Facebook:

The best. The beautiful. Things to praise.

Give people something to feel good about. Spread loveliness and encouragement. Be the one people turn to because you know where the HOPE is found.

God has blessed our country with so much abundance.

God has protected us and provided for us.

We are surrounded by so many things that bring us joy.

We can find a lot to laugh about.

Our kids are happy and healthy and safe.

WE HAVE NEVER ONCE SUFFERED FOR LACK OF TOILET PAPER.

I could go on and on.

Find the things that are best, beautiful, and praiseworthy RIGHT NOW, and SHARE THOSE.

The world needs YOU to do that.