How Pinterest Makes Us Feel {Exodus 31,35}

Sometimes Pinterest can make us feel inadequate, but when we look at Exodus we are in awe of our creator and discover that God can use us where we are. #Biblestudy #Exodus #WomensBibleStudy #GoodMorningGirls

Pinterest – it’s a virtual pin board where we can pin recipes, cute shoes, birthday party ideas, great quotes, home decorating ideas, DIY tutorials, hair styles, and much, much more!

We love it (it’s the fastest growing social media platform right now) and apparently…according to my google search (I screenshot for you  below)–we hate it.

I typed the words, “pinterest makes me feel” and this is what automatically came up:

Pinterest makes me feel...

So this is sad right? Because there is so much to learn and enjoy on Pinterest.  But clearly the feast for our eyes there, makes us feel really bad about ourselves.

But why?

Let’s look at Exodus 31:1-5 and Exodus 35:25-35

Exodus 31:1-5

Then the Lord said …“I have chosen Bezalel…I have filled him with the Spirit of God,…with all kinds of skills—  to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts… I have appointed Oholiab… to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you.”

Exodus 35:25-35

 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair…

And he has given both him and Oholiab… the ability to teach others.

He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

So what do Exodus and Pinterest have in common?

Designers, craftsmen, skilled women, and artists with the ability to teach others!

Who gave these men and women their artistic skills and abilities in Exodus?

God.

Why did God give them?

For the building of the tabernacle – more specifically — for God’s purposes and glory.

Do you have the ability to paint, draw, garden, sew, knit, crochet, cook, design jewelry, birthday cakes, interiors of homes or bouquets of flowers?

These skills are God given.  They’ve been put into your life to be used for God’s glory.

I am not artistic.  I cannot even draw a good stick figure!  My handwriting – it’s so ugly!

I cannot sew.  I cannot knit.  And I feel inferior to other women when it comes to decorating my home.

As far as cooking goes – I feel mediocre…that’s why I post Janelle’s recipes and not mine –although there are 61 of my own recipes dated back to 2009 and 2010 here on the blog but my photography was AWFUL!  Again – the art of photography is not my strong suit either.

So when I look at Pinterest, I am floored at all the women’s many talents.

And I think of God.

In the beginning –God created the heavens and the earth –the sun, moon, and stars –the plants, animals and trees…and man.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.”
~ Genesis 1:26

When we create, we reflect our creator.

When we look at Pinterest – let’s fight the feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, comparisons and competition and instead be in awe at the gifts and skills God has given women — who are made in His likeness.

Be in awe of the creator –of us!

We reflect His glory!

And when we make a birthday cake and it’s a #FAIL and looks nothing like the picture, we remember we live in a fallen world. Perfection waits for us in heaven.

And for those who God not only gave the skills but also the ability to teach (as seen in Exodus 35:34) may we teach to the glory of God.

As I said earlier, I’m not crafty with my hands…

but…

I am a word crafter.  I come to my keyboard daily and tap tap tap – crafting words into paragraphs. Making some bold. Making some italics. Writing titles. Purchasing a graphic to match the title. Then putting the title on the graphic.  For me – it’s a work of art.

But HERE’S the kicker!  I did not know I could write until 6 years ago.  I did not start blogging with a dream to be an author. I wrote because I felt God leading me to disciple women on-line.  This could have totally flopped.  I was not the star writer in my high school or college writing classes. I did not even enjoy those classes.

So I wonder, what skill do you have, that you may not even KNOW you have?

Or what skill do you know you have, that you have been sitting on – not using?

Now is the time to pray and ask God if there is something He has gifted you to do – that you should be doing.  Don’t underestimate how God wants to use YOU to make beautiful centerpieces or cupcakes for a church outreach.  We need you!

When I realized that blogging was my craft, I began honing that skill.  Guess what resource I used to learn…

Pinterest!

Disclaimer: I am not saying we all need to be on Pinterest.

But if you DO have an account there – let’s drop the inadequate, mopey, woe is me feelings and start using it as a tool for learning, helping others and serving God.

Joy and purpose come when we turn our skills and abilities into service for not only our own family but for the church, community and the world.

**Chime In**

Did it surprise you that God gave the Holy Spirit to enable these men to do their artistic work?

What skill do you have that you know God has given you? How are you using it for God’s glory?

What else did you learn this week in your reading in Exodus?

And lest you think I have forgotten – we do have one final week in Exodus to complete. So let’s finish strong!

Here’s this week’s Bible Reading Plan:

FebWeekFour

This week’s Group Discussion (or personal reflection) Questions

{A special thank you to the GMG leadership team who created these for us – Misty, Mandy, Rosilind and Bridget}:

Exodus 36Exodus 37Exodus 38Exodus 39
Exodus 40

{Per your request – the Discussion Questions are now printable!}

This week’s Monday Meditation {or Memorization}

The complete passage:

Memory Work Psalm 77- 11-20

This is a printable – click HERE to print

 This week’s Meditation Verse:

Memory Work Psalm 7720

Print just 1 copy (pictured above) or print 6 copies on one page.

I’ll see you back here THIS Friday to discuss our week of reading!  I am so looking forward to Friday!  Till then…

Walk with the King,

Courtney

35 Comments

  1. I saw comments from women about dropping Facebook and Pinterest because they made them discouraged and discontent. I was shocked because I love looking at them for ideas and keeping up with friends’ lives. I tried to figure out the difference. I think it is a lack of confidence in who we are in Christ. When we know we are loved so deeply by the Creator of the universe and He has given us all different gifts and talents, we can appreciate them in others, as you have written. Then be inspired to better ourselves in the areas we need to improve upon like homemaking, cooking, etc. I’ve always loved being challenged to be better! None of us will ever be perfect but we sure can learn from each other.

  2. I use my talents to treat my grandchildren to home sewn or knitted sweaters and clothing but I also use teaching skills in Sunday School and Children’s Worship and I do the bulletin boards at our church building. I use Pinterest to collect crafts and game ideas for my classes and bulletin board ideas for my bulletin boards. I do not have a gift of imagination to come up with such wonderful themes for the boards but I can take paper and letters and paint, etc. and copy another persons idea adding a few variations and come up with a pleasing board with a theme and a little “one sentence sermon”.

  3. Courtney, thank you for being such an encourager! You truly do have a gift with words. I love this post…you make me feel like I can do anything…lol!! Sweet blessings to you!

    Walking in His Grace,
    Laurie

  4. I very much agree! Pinterest, or any other external influence, does not make me feel anything. I choose how I feel in response to that which I am exposed.

    I think taking responsibility to renew our mind can help us stop exalting ourselves. After all, our “woe is me” inferiority feelings keep our attention on US. We can choose to find the creative image of God being revealed like crazy on Pinterest or we can choose to compare ourselves with ourselves and be miserable. It’s really our choice. Maybe we should focus our mind with the motto: Choose Joy!! 🙂

  5. Hi Courtney,

    You mentioned you feel inferior about your house decorating skills-well many times when watching your videos, I’ve wished I could make my house look as wonderful as yours does! You did a great job as far as I can tell! Thank you for this post–I love pinterest for ideas for everything!! 🙂

  6. thank you so much for writing this! I have been battling this lately unfortunately, and God has been working in my heart. 11 Corinthians 12:4-11, 14-20 KJV

    Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.

    1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 14-20 KJV

    Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.

    1. Oops. Sorry about that. My tablet got carried away with double posting. It should be 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 14-20 not 11 Corinthians.

  7. You hit the nail on the head. Pinterest has never made me feel bad(although I will admit to it being a time waster for me when I first opened my account). Everyone has gifts and I am awed at the God given talent I see when I get on Pinterest.

  8. I recently gave up my Pinterest account. It was not that I was discouraged or anything but I would pin things and never go back to look at things or bake/cook things that I pinned so I figured I would let it go. It was a good decision for me. Have a beautiful day!!

  9. I think that sometimes we need to consider our attitude before sharing our lives on social media. It has become a great platform for judgement. Sometimes when I make a fun lunch for my kids (like sandwiches in fun shapes, fruit salad that looks like a rocket, etc.) I want to post pictures of it. Then I think of that weary mom who just threw a piece of Bologna on her kids’ plates (which could be me tomorrow) and realize she doesn’t need to see my creativity and feel inadequate. If my attitude is “wow, I am such a cool mom, I have SO got it together and I want everyone to know” I don’t share. If I feel like I might be helping someone, maybe I do. Just a thought.

      1. So well said, Johanna!
        Thank you, Courtney. You are so real. You have your finger right on the pulse of women. These feelings don’t just come from Pinterest — thank you for bringing this to light.

    1. Hi Johanna,

      I really like your point of view with reflecting on our motives for posting an image or even a post about our daily lives on our social media pages. I personally, think it’s a great idea to share both the fun shaped sandwiches and rocket shaped fruit and also the boring bologna days. It allows our friends & family to know that we live very “real” lives where we have simple bologna days and also the days where our God given talents are coming through. I don’t feel we should stifle either one. I find it all inspirational! The one thing I don’t support and is a huge pet peeve of mine is constant complaining on social media, where the person complains about the same thing every day but does nothing to make improvements. At any rate – it sounds like you make some awesome sammies for your kids and you have many wonderful talents that should be shared to inspire all of us. God Bless 🙂

      Warm Regards,
      Brandi

  10. My issue isn’t inadequecy, mine is that I’m rather content and hop on out of boredom or need a quick idea and get sucked in for way too long wasting time. I also go from content to covetous. I was happy with my living room furniture and just needed some paint color ideas. An hour later I now feel I need a whole new room! I too pin a ton and never go back to use it. I haven’t deleted my account but I rarely go on. Like all of life I think there is a need for balance.

  11. Courtney, that was such a great word! I was very encouraged by this post and especially your openness about not knowing what your gift even was. I was very much the same way. I never dreamed that God would use me to write. I knew that it had always interested me, but I never felt like I was good enough. Now that this is a realization and not a dream I understand that the voice telling me I was not good enough was the enemy and he just wanted to shut me up. Praise the Lord I defeat him every time I sit down at my computer and share what God lays on my heart. Thank you for this encouraging word! Be blessed!

  12. Ive been dealing with these things for awhile now and reading Exodus 35 , showed me God gives everyone a skill , whether we have to learn the skill or its an automatic skill. I use to crochet and knit but have been thinking its a waste of time and all my time should be studying God’s word.. I am guilty of wasting alot of time and not studying like i should . Knitting takes more time than crocheting . I learned crocheting from my grandmother when i was 7 . Knitting i learned and researched alot on my own by watching youtube videos . I really enjoy doing it but once i start in something that becomes all i wanna do so then my guilt sets in of not putting every waking hour on God. So I just dont do anything but read some in the Bible and sometimes ill write stuff down sometimes not. Then the guilt sets in again of not doing what needed to be done an how could i even think of knitting or crocheting when i have not give my time to Father.
    Thanks for the great post . ive learned so much and i just found Blogging thru the bible a week or so ago .

  13. I really don’t go on Pinterest that much but when I do. It can feel a bit overwhelming. I do think the things they put on there are beautiful, though and I guess I don’t feel as bad because I’m not crafty and I’m okay with that. 🙂

    This is a great read.

  14. You are amazing in your craft of writing!! Each week I can’t believe how original you are in bringing Exodus alive and relevant to the women who are reading your blog.

    Thanks for hosting the linkup today. Blessings!!

  15. Thank you. This is very helpful. I actually gave up Pinterest for Lent (among other social media) because I was spending way too much time searching for things I could do to make myself more beautiful wife, a better cook or housekeeper, or a better gift-giver and entertainer. To date, I’ve used maybe 5 pins. I am not gifted in decorating or designing, so I appreciate the women who are and can give me tips in that area, but I realize I need to glorify the Creator and focus on how to please Him in my homemaking pursuits. “The Hidden Art of Homemaking” by Edith Schaeffer is a great book on this subject.

  16. I have learned a few things over the years especially about myself where Facebook is concerned. But with Pinterest, I love it! I love seeing other people’s talents and ideas! I have so many pinned boards and will never get to all of them, but I have done some. When I redid all of our kids rooms, that was the first place I went to see other people’s ideas and get ideas to use. It was great! I can see how some could feel inadequate. I think that mostly comes down to personality and secondly past life happenings. I know some people who their first thought is always, “I’m a loser because I can’t do _____.” God didn’t make junk and He made everyone with talents. We have to figure out what those are and use our own talents. I have always like the saying… If you judge a fish on how well it can climb a tree, it will always feel like a loser. The opposite is true- if you judge a fish on how well it can swim- because it was designed for that- it will succeed every time. Comparison can be lethal. God made each of us on purpose, for a purpose. 🙂

  17. YES!!!!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful perspective! I too am the not-so-crafty mom. My Pinterest inspired ideas have been #epicfails but they have also been successful! I am awed by the loveliness God has created and surrounded us with and lets be honest…..this isn’t a far cry from the times of magazine clipping….right? I pray for the women that feel this curse of comparison. Let us remember Titus 2:4 and not forget that all these things being taught were taught amongst women being together. Our social network driven society has created so much isolation. If only we could watch our sisters and the trials. The tears and laughs that accompanied the 5 cakes that were complete flops before we judge the perfect one in the picture. Or the sisters that create beauty while sitting with broken hearts and unanswered prayers! God is so good and we have all been fearfully and wonderfully made!

    Blessings,
    Meg

  18. Thank you so much for writing about this. It’s true, I feel like such a dud sometimes when I spend too much time on Pinterest, but mostly it inspires me! Social Media as a whole, really feeds the seed of inadequacy in us women, but when we see it with different eyes…with eyes that say God has made us all different, and beautiful, and talented in different ways and we are thankful and appreciative that we don’t have to be all things, we can be just what the good Lord purposed us to be it’s a relief. But I have to remember that…thanks for the reminder. XO, Sheila

  19. Yes, great post! Great comments as well.

    I am currently on a fast from all forms of social media, not so much for feelings of inadequacy, but rather to drown out all of the external stimuli , the media consumption, the voices of writers that my mind would linger upon throughout the day. To put to rest an idol.

    Instead I am spending more time with God. I long to hear His voice, to linger on His words. It has been freeing both in time and mental clutter.

    Blessings,
    Tara

  20. I love this! Whenever I read this passage I become excited that he men and women artists of Moses time were gifted by God to create their works of art! I’m so excited and pleased to create my own art and if they were specially gifted, then I am also! I have a purpose beyond my own pleasure to fulfill, and God can use my gifts and skills for His pleasure.

  21. I have to honestly say that I have never reallt felt inadequate when it comes to pimterest. I love it. I get many recipe ideas. And if I do find something decorative I try to copy to my best. But I mostly subscribe to funnies, you (Courtney), other Godly women, scripture quotes and hair. Thanks for the post you are always putting biblical times to current Times. Thanks Courtney

  22. Thanks for writing this! The last few weeks I’ve been so discouraged.. All my gifts are creative and artistic and I was so not wanting to focus on anything temporal and all my gifts make things that are pretty and temporal.. What was the point? Why waste time on things that are fading away. Left me very lost and not sure what God wants from me. God actually led me to read your post today! I forgot HE made me this way and it’s ok to make temporal things for his glory.

  23. Great post Courtney. I have a tendency to feel inadequate, bu that is just me and God is working on me with this. I try to look at my life and look at all the things I’m grateful for and that brings contentment. Life on the outside for most of us looks amazing especially when shared on social media, but one thing I’ve found I. The last few years is that everyone I know is going theough some sort of challenge, that is hard for them. Often times we don’t see that because we think we need to keep it together and show the world that we are super people. Social media very rarely shows the hard moments in life and keeping that in mind means we can read and see things on fb and Pinterest and such like and appreciate them as points of inspiration but not of comparison.
    I loved your note Lori, I think you made valid points relative to each of us.
    Even though I’ve read the Bible many times I missed the part of the gifts of artistic talents given out and when reading it this time, I found it quite exciting and amazing. I’ve only in the last few years realised I can paint, I don’t sell my pieces, most are done as therapy for me and I hang them in my home. I did a large painting for a girlfriend of mine last year which I enjoyed doing and she has hanging on her living room wall. I can only paint when I give it over to God, pray over it, especially when I am painting for someone else

  24. Pinterest has never made me feel bad. I’m a weirdo though. I was basically viciously bullied from age 6-16 in public school (years before the anti-bullying wave of today). Having my peers make me feel completely worthless & at one point suicidal eventually caused an extreme lean towards not caring what others think of me. BUT Facebook made me feel bad! All the vacations & gorgeous women with big houses & great bodies made me feel jealous. So I deleted my facebook. So glad I did. Don’t miss it one bit. 🙂

  25. I love Exodus 35:34-35! It reminded me of how true it is that our skills, crafts and talents all come from God. I teach 1st grade and I know and understand that my ability to teach comes from God himself and no one else and I am truly grateful for this gift! I truly feel called to my profession. On a side note, as a teacher I do use Pinterst to get ideas and find it quite useful for the classroom.!

  26. This resonates with me, Courtney, thank you for sharing! I used to browse through Pinterest, pinning away beautiful DIYs and decor that I never expected to have the ability to attempt…and here I am embarking on the journey of a creative woodworking business with my husband! I had never picked a hammer up before, and now we are building beautiful furniture and signs for others. GOD. IS. AMAZING. I am in awe watching the way he has been working in my family’s lives this past year, especially now that my husband is planning his first missions trip for this April!! We have shared our story here on our blog about his mission into the jungles of Equador. http://www.thesouthernwoodshop.com/blogs/news/17334796-meet-co-owner-james-and-read-about-his-upcoming-equador-missions-trip

  27. Love your post Courtney! I’m so inspired by all the wonderful talents that I see all around us in this world. When I see something that is beautiful, I’ll be inspired to try doing it myself or I’ll know that it’s something that I’m not gifted with and will admire that persons ability with awe. It’s truly how one chooses to view everything in life. God Bless

  28. Pinterest, like all new technologies, are all nothing more than tools for our lives. But, it’s up to each of us to learn how to use the tool to our benefit and to benefit others. Unfortunately, that’s where it gets hard. 🙂 Thanks for the reminder that we should soak in inspiration and throw out the comparisons.

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