Don't Look Passed The Little Things

Anxiety, depression .… being overstimulated .… that is all you see now a days … you see it on social media, you see it on the news and you overhear it when you listen to people talk.

The more and more you listen and analyze the more you will realize that the people who say that they suffer from these things the most … are people your age.

Young teens, young adults ..… Generation Z ..… you guys are the generation that suffers from these things the most ..…

The question is why? Why is it that declaring anxiety or depression over your life is something that is more common in todays world than it ever has been before?

Before we answer that question .… I want to ask you guys a different question

Don’t you think its crazy that now a days teenagers tell each other that they are depressed or anxious .… just to get more attention ..…

I want you to think about this ..… from the 1950s through the early 2000s, mental-health struggles were commonly viewed as:

A sign of weakness

A personal failure

Something you should “just get over”

Something you don’t talk about outside the family

A label that could affect your job, reputation, or relationships

Now I am not saying that its a sign of weakness to open up about the things that you are going through ..… DEFINITELY NOT … I think its brave and shows courage to speak about your problems and allow others to pray for you about them .…

What I want to draw attention to is the simple fact that over the last several decades … people have changed … the things we care about have changed … and that has caused an increase in mental health problems.

You don’t have to trust what I am saying … look at these statistics given to us by the CDC

~30 years ago ~ 3–10% (depending on gender, country)

~2009–2014 ~ 8–11% (U.S. adolescents, depression)

~2021–2023 ~ 15–20%+ (U.S. adolescents, depression symptoms)

It’s crazy to me how the percentage of people that have been diagnosed with symptoms like these has gone up almost 5 times as much as when our parents were alive .…

I asked myself … why ? Why is this happening? Why is society normalizing mental health conditions?

It had to come down to one answer .… the affect that the internet, social media and technology plays on our psychological state of being.

I am not saying to never use the internet, social media or technology … LORD knows im probably the biggest tech geek in this room ..…

What I am saying is that we need to be aware of what the enemy is trying to do to us ...…

Social Media and the Internet teaches us several things .…

Instant gratification

constant comparison

Dopamine rushes

This pulls our attention away from the small, sacred moments God designed us to enjoy.

When did we ever see Jesus frantically searching for a love romance .… or when did we see Jesus comparing himself to Matthew or Mark ?

In fact … Jesus corrected them .…

Luke 22:24–26 NASB95

And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.

Jesus also taught the delay of gratification ..…

Doordash

Uber Eats

Amazon Same-Day Delivery

Overnight shipping

24/7 fast food restaurants

All of these things introduce the idea of instant gratification in our lives ..…

But Jesus very clearly tells us to do the opposite .… especially in

Luke 9:23–24 NASB95

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

You cannot follow Jesus while living in the trap of instant gratification.

You cannot walk in freedom while comparing your life to everyone else’s.

And you cannot hear God’s voice while drowning in dopamine.

So if social media teaches us comparison, rush, and anxiety… What does Jesus teach us?

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He teaches us rest. He teaches us trust. He teaches us to slow down and live in God’s rhythm — not the rhythm of the world.

Jesus knew that every generation — including YOURS — would face pressure, fear, and uncertainty. But He also knew the cure.

Listen to what he says:

Matthew 6:26–27 NASB95

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Jesus is saying: When you feel anxious… look up. Stop scrolling. Look at creation. Everything God made is taken care of — and you are worth more than all of it.

Worry doesn't add to your life. Comparison doesn’t add to your life. Scrolling doesn’t add to your life. Chasing validation definitely doesn’t add to your life.

But trusting God does.

Later in the same chapter, He says:

Matthew 6:33 NASB95

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Not “seek the approval of others.” Not “seek the next trend.” Not “seek the next dopamine hit.”

Seek Him.

Because whatever you chase… becomes your master. And Jesus wants to break you out of every master that isn’t Him.

But Jesus also gives us a practical daily instruction — something simple enough for a child, deep enough to change your life:

Matthew 6:11 NASB95

‘Give us this day our daily bread.

Not tomorrow’s bread. Not next month’s bread. Not the bread that someone else has. Daily bread.

Jesus is saying: “You don’t have to control your whole life. You don’t need to know the future. Just trust Me today.”

This is the opposite of anxiety. This is the opposite of comparison. This is the opposite of overstimulation.

And then Jesus ends it with a powerful reminder:

Matthew 6:34 NASB95

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

What Jesus wants to tell us: Stop living in the future. Stop living in “what ifs.” Stop carrying a weight that God never asked you to carry. Live today. Be present with God today.

But here’s my favorite part…

Jesus doesn’t just teach us not to worry. He invites us into a life where anxiety has no authority over us.

Listen to His invitation:

Matthew 11:28–30 NASB95

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

You know what that means?

God is not asking you to be strong — He is asking you to run to Him. He is not asking you to fix yourself — He is asking you to surrender. He is not asking you to carry anxiety — HE is offering to carry YOU.

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Social media says: “Do more. Prove yourself. Achieve. Compare. Hurry.”

Jesus says: “Come to Me. Rest. Slow down. Let me lead you.”

The world says: “You’re not enough.”

Jesus says: “You are valuable, chosen, and cared for.”

The world says: “You should be anxious about everything.”

Jesus says: “Give Me your burdens… and I will give you rest.”

So tonight, I want to challenge you… What are you carrying that you were never meant to carry? Whose approval are you chasing that will never satisfy you? What weight have you placed on your soul that Jesus is offering to remove?

Because the cure to anxiety isn’t more information. The cure to depression isn’t more dopamine. The cure to comparison isn’t more followers.

The cure is Jesus. The cure is rest. The cure is trust. The cure is coming back to the One who holds your life.

And if you let Him — He will give you peace the world can’t imitate.