Finding My Way Back to Community Without Instagram

Please excuse this not-so-crisp photo taken in Feb 2020.

Before the world went into chaos, before the word “uncertain” became part of daily life, before we were baking banana bread and chocolate muffins to comfort and entertain us.

I love this photo because it evokes a simpler time. A time when dreams felt endless and the world seemed unshakable. Sitting on a pretty couch at a Future Females event in Stellenbosch just a few weeks before the world went into lockdown, I felt invincible. I was confident and thrilled to be part of little communities and empowering women’s groups.

But just a few weeks later, my social calendar and idealistic plans came to a grinding halt. People moved away, businesses closed, dreams died, friendships fizzled – lockdown was a lonely time for so many people. That audacious sense of steadiness and the gatherings we’d come to enjoy and rely on evaporated overnight.

Beyond that, many of us who are sensitive to energies saw how leaders and governments handled the pandemic. (It was dark and inhumane, to say the least).

And it was overwhelming. So we retreated and we hid.

Many people shut down as the world shut down…

I wanted to mentally escape it all. That’s when I found New Age and what I thought was a beautiful spiritual online community. I felt like I was part of something special, that I had purpose. The deeper I got into this false light deception, the more I pulled back from real-world connections and community – beyond social media.

Five Years Later…

I don’t want to talk about my time in New Age too much in this post.

Instead, I want to share something incredible that’s been happening these last few weeks. After years of searching and hoping and wishing, I’ve found (off-screen) community again. Connecting on social media is great, and I appreciate the ability to meet and chat with like-minded people across different time zones, but nothing beats in-person connection – when it’s genuine and rooted in a deep sense of love and care.

I never found that in New Age. For three years, I believed I had to “release connections” and dig deeper into myself, to meditate and manifest and visualise world peace, etc. Yes, I got sporadic and superficial bursts of “love and light,” but they NEVER lasted or fulfilled me.

I always wanted more.

And I always felt like something big was missing.

Turning to Jesus in November 2024 changed EVERYTHING.

Finding Community Again in Unexpected Ways

It wasn’t until January 2025 that I felt a nudge to seek out local communities again.

To meet new faces and reopen social doors…

And by social, I mean meaningful.

I’m not sure about you, but I can’t do surface-level conversations or shallow connections. They dim my spirit and deplete my energy. I think life is too short for performances and pretense, so I deeply appreciate those who reciprocate with curiosity and openness.

The community of ladies I’ve found happened in the most divinely orchestrated way – I’m still in awe of how it all came about. To paint a picture with broad strokes, let me show you how drastically my world has changed in just three months.

Isolated to Community – Snapshot Timeline

27 Nov 2024: Saved by Jesus (I called out to Him and gave up New Age).
4 Jan 2025: Google to find churches near me that teach about Jesus.
5 Jan 2025: Go to church (first time in years) only to discover it’s one of two big social events for the year and not a normal service. God’s humour is something else!
10 Jan 2025: Have two ladies over for coffee from church (fellowship).
5 Feb 2025: A walk and coffee at Vergelegen with a new God-centred friend.
13 Feb 2025: Got rid of the last of my New Age and self-help books.
24 Feb 2025: Share my desire for a church baptism.
25 Feb 2025: Visit a ladies’ prayer group and have life-changing deliverance.
26 Feb 2025: Join a women’s weekly Bible study group.
2 March 2025: Go to a proper church service for the first time in five years!
5 March 2025: Prepare to join more community events and a baptism later this month.

SO much has happened in such a short amount of time!

It’s like God is making up for all those years of isolation. I’ve found the most incredible, salt of the Earth women in faith who are welcoming and caring and fueled with the fire of the Holy Spirit – I feel blessed and so grateful to have met them.

God’s timing is perfect.

He knows what and who we need in our lives.

The two ladies I met in January continued to message me and gently encourage me when I found myself retreating (transitions are scary!).

Right before I unknowingly walked into a huge church social, a lady and I arrived simultaneously at the entrance. I wanted to run back to the car, but she took me under her wing and introduced me to people. Bless her.

Last week, once again, God divinely ensured that our paths met at the entrance (without our planning), so I felt comfortable walking in. I was praying in the car on the way for my nerves to calm. God is good.

Quietening Distractions to Hear God Better

I’ve been off Instagram for about a week now.

I decided to take an indefinite hiatus from it because I’d been spending so much time and energy into creating and consuming content – as well as having long conversations in my DMs. So I created a short “See You Later” post and removed the app from my phone.

And can I tell you? It’s been wonderful.

I didn’t realise how being on Instagram so often was impacting my mental energy. Interestingly, I received a message recently to step away from seeking out tons of content and to pause sharing social posts around my time in New Age.

(For NOW).

It goes a little deeper and links back to my deliverance, and I’ll share more in time. But for now, I’m going to pour my energy and focus into community, read Scripture, watch sermons, pray frequently, and be STILL. Because that’s what I’m being guided to do.

Even when I feel societal pressure to conform and get busy and document everything.

I need to trust God and seek the kingdom first.

Btw, I used to scoff at this (along with prayer). How quickly life can change! Even though I don’t have a set plan in place, I don’t feel stressed out or worried. I take comfort in knowing God is in charge and He is directing my way.