Oh, The Insanity!

Usually when I am doing a speaking event, if I ask, “What is the definition of insanity?”, I think more than half the audience reply in one accord with the answer –

“Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.”

That is the definition of insanity that I am always trying to get from the audience.  Many people start attending Celebrate Recovery (CR) or other support groups to get away from or reduce the insanity in their lives.

Several years ago, as I was planning to teach at CR, I kept thinking of all these seemingly funny skits about “insanity” that I could use from my own personal life, but as I was in prayer one day it came over me that no skit would be appropriate this time around.  There is nothing funny about insanity – it costs us our relationships, our jobs, our peace, … our connection with God.

People are trained to identify counterfeit money not by studying counterfeit money; they are trained by studying the real bill day in and day out so that they may easily recognize when they receive a bill that is not the true bill.  Just like those studying to identify counterfeit money, I believe we should not be spending our time focusing on the counterfeit life… the insane.
Instead, let’s spend our time focusing on what SANITY looks like.  I want to know sanity inside and out, understand what it looks like in depth so that when insanity starts creeping into my life I will recognize it and recognize it quickly before it takes over!
So, what is “sanity”?  As described in Celebrate Recovery curriculum:
Sanity – 
Wholeness of mind; 
making decisions based on truth.
In order to make decisions based on truth, we must know the truth.  We will not learn the truth simply by listening to the lies of satan, others opinions, etc.  We must search for and study the truth – the Word of God.
Here are some truths that we can all hold firm to in our daily “sane” walk (obviously there are many more that I could add):
  • Must grow: In 2 Corinthian 5:17, we are told that we became a new life when accepting Jesus’ work on the cross.  “New life” must grow; therefore, we will no longer be content in our old ways of insanity that stunt our growth.
  • Escape routes always exist: 1 Corinthian 10:13 states, “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out.”; therefore, if we are tempted, we can, with confidence, start looking around for the escape route because it definitely exists.
  • You are loved: God loves us. He has proved it over and over. He believes that you were worth the fight and the sacrifice – even when we were at our worst moment (Romans 5:6-8).
  • Humility = Strength: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).”  “Meek” in this verse is much like a very strong horse – that if left to himself would be destructive, but when bridled and can feel the gentle nudge to go left or right, stop or go, is valiant and amazing! We are much the same way with our Heavenly Father leading the way. 
Take time to identify what sanity looks like… absorb it, study it, be it.  Constantly search for a wholeness of mind, and make decisions based on the truth. You can have sanity in your life… one day at a time, one step at a time.
  • Are there parts of your life in which you are just sick of them being insane?
  • What truth stated above has been most difficult for you to believe and hold onto?
  • If you live by these truth filled principles, what in your life might be different?
  • How can I pray for you today?
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