Do you sometimes suffer from the fear of missing out? The concept isn't that common, but it's been growing in popularity since more and more people are realising the presence of this kind of fear in them.
The fear of missing out, or F.O.M.O., is an unease we might frequently feel when presented with a new opportunity that whispers to us that we'd be missing out on a whole lot if we don't join the bandwagon.
People who experience and give in quickly to the fear of missing out are most likely to invest in new ventures, go to various events, switch churches or ministries or get into different organisations. Sadly, people who give in too easily to the fear of missing out also lose focus more easily and end up being spread too thin to accomplish what they really set out to do.
At the heart of the fear of missing out is an anxiety that gets us to act on our own strength. But Philippians 4:6 urges us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Here are three ways to be released from anxiety and the fear of missing out.
1. Know Your Purpose
We can't and shouldn't do just anything we want to. We all have a God-given purpose that we are to walk in. Purpose brings about focus, and focus allows us to laser in on a handful of opportunities and to say "no" to opportunities that do not line up with what God wants to achieve through us.
When we know what our purpose is, we will no longer fear missing out on opportunities just because they might be the next big thing for us because we are assured that we are already in the best position—being in the centre of God's will.
2. Trust in God for All Needs to be Met
Fear of missing out is often rooted in a kind of anxiety that tries to convince us that we don't have everything that we need yet and that we need to strive to meet those needs no matter what it takes. But a heart ruled by God's peace and not fear learns to trust God for all needs to be met.
Philippians 4:6 reminds us to let our requests be known to God because as long as we have Him, we will never miss out on His best.
3. Be Grateful and Content
Truth be told, God has already given us His best, but sometimes our discontentment blinds us from all the blessings that we already have. We have a life in Christ not just here but in eternity as well. We have God's endless spiritual blessings through Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). God has given us so much and when we stand in a position of thanksgiving, it removes from us the fear of missing out.
