Prayers Over Posts: Why I’m Fasting Social Media

Published: September 23, 2025

By Leigh Hewett

I didn’t plan to start a social media fast today — but the Lord had other plans for me.

Over the past few weeks, I found myself reeling every time I checked social media. The heartbreaking news of Charlie Kirk’s tragic passing exploded on my feed. Whether you followed his work or not, Charlie was a bold voice in the faith and political world. His sudden death rocked me, and many others, to the core. I was looking for community, somewhere to process the pain and grief.

Instead of comfort, I found myself spinning in the toxic social media cycle that unfurls when a national tragedy hits. The online world becomes filled with division, anger and the comments become a battlefield instead of a space for healing.

Even still, I woke up this morning, and, out of habit, reached for my phone first thing. My thumb hovered over the Instagram icon but the Lord whispered in my heart, “Step away, come be with me.”

Bleary-eyed but clear-hearted, I deleted the app off my phone. Not just Instagram but all of it — Facebook, X, and all the other social media apps filled with noise, opinions and endless scrolls.

Instead of opening Instagram, I opened my morning in prayer for healing and peace for our nation. That’s what the Holy Spirit gently impressed on my heart: every time I feel the pull to jump into social media, it’s a chance to pause and pray instead.

So here I am. Today is Day One of my social media fast. No filters. No hashtags. Just me and the One who sees me fully and loves me deeply. More than ever, our nation needs prayer over opinions. So with every urge to scroll, I’m choosing to pray for our nation’s wisdom, clarity and for hearts to turn Jesus.

I’m not to trying escape the world but rather escape the noise long enough to hear God’s voice. To choose prayer over posts and to swap feeds filled with division for moments filled with grace. To trade the endless noise for the quiet voice of God.

Honestly, I don’t know how long this fast will last. Maybe a day, maybe a week, maybe longer. But what I do know is that since waking up this morning, I’ve already found myself praying five separate times. And each time, there’s been a little more peace creeping in, a little more calm settling over my heart and a fresh reminder that God’s presence is the only real source of rest in all this chaos.

Here’s to finding peace in the quiet and to letting God lead us through the noise.

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” — James 4:8

Questions or comments? Please write to us here.