Like I’ve said before, most of my peers are on social media. And honestly, sometimes that seems easier. If you asked the average person what they did today, the answer would probably sound the same: “I worked. I went to school. I ran errands. I watched a game. I scrolled.” That’s normal, modern life.
But normal doesn’t always mean harmless. There’s nothing wrong with unwinding on your phone. We all need rest. And scrolling isn’t automatically bad, especially if you’re learning from people you trust. The real question isn’t whether we scroll. It’s what we’re allowing to train our minds.
Because something is always training us. Every algorithm is designed to keep our attention. Every notification is built to interrupt it. We don’t just use technology — technology is shaping how we think, how long we focus, and even what we believe is important.
This week, while writing my Future Voices column, my mom and I talked about worldview, religion, and how ideas shape cultures. She had me listen to part of a message from Pastor Josh Howerton about Islamic history from his point of view and spiritual discernment. His point was simple: not everything that sounds good, or even spiritual, is true. Scripture warns believers to examine ideas carefully.
In Galatians 1:8, Paul writes that even if an angel were to preach a different gospel, it should be rejected. That sounds intense. But the point isn’t fear. It’s vigilance. Truth matters. Ideas matter. What we repeatedly expose ourselves to matters.
The real battle isn’t always loud opposition. Sometimes it’s just a distraction. Sometimes it’s endless noise that slowly changes our ability to think deeply at all. And distraction doesn’t feel dangerous. It feels normal. It feels like everyone else is doing it, and that’s what makes it powerful.
Lent and fasting feel relevant here. Lent isn’t just about giving something up to prove a point. It’s about training your heart and your attention. Training your habits. Maybe that means being more intentional about what we consume, not quitting social media entirely if we enjoy it, but refusing to scroll mindlessly.
Because the way we spend our afternoons shapes who we become. If I spent three hours reacting to short clips, my thinking would probably become reactive and choppy. But if I spent that same time listening to thoughtful teaching with an adult or wrestling with bigger ideas, my thinking would deepen. I would become more patient and more discerning. Nothing happens accidentally.
I’m starting to realize that discipline isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about refusing to let it control me. It’s deciding whether my time will sharpen my mind or scatter it. Because in the end, who we become is shaped by what we repeatedly give our attention to. And time and attention are some of the most valuable things we have.
I don’t want to drift. I want to choose. I hope you do too.
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About Future Voices
Future Voices is a Sunday-morning column in The Dallas Express in which young Texans share how faith and perseverance shape their lives. These stories remind readers that God often speaks through the honesty and courage of the next generation.
