By Mallory Mattingly
Do you suffer from FOMO? Atlanta Falcons running back Nathan Carter has the cure, and it’s Jesus.
“Imagine a man standing at a crossroads. On one path, he sees it glittering and filled with the pleasures of the world: wealth, fame, and instant gratification. The seductive pull of designer labels, luxury cars, and celebrities’ ‘perfect’ lives that he wants to live seems all too satisfying to pass up,” the running back began to share in a post on Instagram.
“As the man walks along the path, he feels increasing dissatisfaction. What once seemed fulfilling now leaves him feeling empty and restless,” Carter described. “He chases achievements, possessions, and validation, but finds himself awake at 2 am, comparing his life to others. He aches from the feeling of inadequacy and wonders why the path he’s been walking on is giving him more restlessness than rest.”
“This man is suffering from ‘FOMO,’ the fear of missing out,” Carter continued. “He was lured by the glitter of what he saw, and he thought that he was missing out on true life. While he feared missing the best life, he was chasing the counterfeit. The world promises to fulfill our deepest desires: identity, love, security, belonging, significance, joy, and purpose. However, it dangles money, pleasure, and power as bait, waiting for us to bite so that it can trap us in death and despair. It offers counterfeit versions of genuine human needs, leaving us emptier than before. The cure lies not in chasing worldly things, but in pursuing something far better.”
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The things that we seek — love, joy, peace, and the like — can only be found in Christ.
“What the world enslaves us to, God’s grace liberates us from, revealing a better way of living. By delighting in God’s path, we fulfill our hearts’ desires and find true satisfaction in Him,” the athlete said.
Carter referenced the Psalm 37:4, which reads, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
He shared a quote from Charles Spurgeon that encapsulated his message:
He who fears God and is wholly God’s servant has no chains about him; he may live as he likes, for he likes to live as he ought. He may have his full desires, for his desires are holy, heavenly, and divine. He may take the full range of the utmost capacity of his wishes and desires and have all he needs and all he wishes, for God has given him the promise, and God will give him the fulfillment of it.
“Today, you stand at a crossroads. What will you surrender your heart to?” Carter asked.
The athlete often shares his faith on social media. In a post last year, he said, “If the world discourages you, I understand. The good news is that there is hope. Instead of dwelling on what’s broken, we can turn our eyes toward the source of restoration. Specifically, someone greater: Jesus.”
Carter understands that our hope cannot be in the things of this world. Putting our trust in Jesus brings the security we truly long for.
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