Not long after having my son, I found myself in the middle of sleepless nights, reaching for something to keep me awake. I thought, why not go back on Instagram? It’ll be entertaining, it’ll distract me.
But that same day, I felt it. My anxiety spiked. I was restless and uneasy, comparing myself in ways I hadn’t in months. And deep in my spirit, I sensed the nudge: log off again. I did, and almost instantly, the anxiety lifted.
That moment reminded me of Jesus’ words:
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.”
— Matthew 6:22–23
That day on Instagram reminded me how quickly what I consume can affect me. But it’s not just social media. For those of us who carry trauma, what we take in hits even harder. Trauma shapes the way we see the world, what feels safe, what feels threatening, even what feels true
Trauma Tints Our Vision
Trauma doesn’t just stay in the past. It changes the way we see everything.
- I used to walk into rooms scanning for danger, even when no one else felt it.
- I absorbed criticism faster than I could receive love.
- I replayed old stories of fear because at least they felt familiar.
Trauma trains the eye to expect darkness. And when your eyes already carry that weight, what you feed them matters even more.
The Feed That Shapes Us
Social media, TV, podcasts, even the news, our feeds are food for the soul. They pour directly into the doorway of our eyes, shaping our inner world.
That’s why curating them matters so much, especially for those of us walking through trauma recovery.
I’ve learned I’m especially susceptible to what I watch. Early on, I tried to force myself to keep up with popular shows and conversations. But my brain couldn’t handle it. I always ended up anxious, overstimulated, weighed down.
When I finally honored my limits and stopped watching things that pulled me under, everything changed. My mind felt clearer. My emotions steadier. I didn’t feel so stuck in the shadows.
That’s when I realized: my feed could either reinforce the trauma lens I already carried, or it could help me practice a new vision.
Healing the Doorway
For me, living out Jesus’ words looks less like a list of dos and don’ts, and more like paying attention to how my body and spirit respond.
- Curating without guilt. I mute, unfollow, and block freely. Protecting my peace matters more than pleasing an algorithm.
- Checking in with my body. If I close an app or finish a show and feel more anxious, heavy, or restless, I don’t ignore that.
- Choosing light on purpose. Scripture, uplifting voices, worship music, these aren’t just “nice.” They’re survival for me.
- Inviting God into my vision. I pray: “Lord, heal my eyes. Help me to see not through the lens of trauma, but through the lens of truth.”
A Final Word of Hope
Trauma may have distorted my vision, but it doesn’t define it forever. Jesus promises that if our eye is healthy, whole, clear, generous, our whole body will be full of light.
That means even if your past trained you to expect betrayal, danger, or comparison, God can retrain your eyes. He can heal the doorway.
And in this world of endless feeds, I’m learning something powerful: I still get to choose what enters. I can either let darkness reinforce my trauma, or I can let light rewrite the story.
Friend, your eyes are the doorway to your healing. Guard them with care. Protect them like your life depends on it, because in many ways, it does.
Reflection Prompt
Take five quiet minutes today to pause and look at your own “feed,” whether that’s your social media, the shows you watch, or even the people you listen to most.
- Notice: How do you feel in your body after spending time there, lighter or heavier, hopeful or anxious?
- Ask: “Does this feed my healing, or does it feed my trauma?”
- Pray: Invite God to show you one small change you can make to protect the doorway of your eyes and welcome more of His light.
Write down what you notice. Even one small shift, muting an account, choosing a different playlist, or pausing before you scroll, can open the door for more light to fill your inner life.