You are not insane

If there is one word that I don’t like, it’s the word insane. Maybe it’s because I have had people reach out to me to tell me I belong in that category. “Don’t you know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?”

Yes, I do know the definition and it drives the point of why I don’t like the word. Why does it have such a negative connotation? As I was thinking of this definition I was thinking of all the weights I have lifted over the years. I have always loved lifting weights but very rarely do I increase the amount of weight I am lifting. Despite the fact that I continue to lift the same amount, guess what I have seen, results. This is just one example of many that came to mind.

Well my walk in faith for babies is no different. It was just recently that a pastor shared a few sentences in his sermon about this word “insane.” I about fell in my chair as he nailed the topic. His encouragement? Even though people of this world might tell you that you are insane, the biblical definition of insanity is faith.

Faith.

Faith sometimes looks like doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I want to encourage you that if your journey has seemed like you have been going in monotonous circles over and over, it doesn’t mean you are insane! Joshua 6:6-20 is a great example of this. To give you a brief overview of this passage, God instructed Joshua and the armed men to march around the city once for 6 days and on the 7th day he told them to walk around 7 times. Can you imagine the monotony? Circle after circle. Marching in circles is interestingly enough how my journey to becoming a mom often feels. “How many more circles Lord? How much longer Lord” The five years of waiting have felt very repetitive, but you know what? God isn’t surprised. He wasn’t surprised by the army’s circles and he’s not surprised by your circles either. And in the wait, in the circles and in the monotony, God is still faithful. He continues to listen to every prayer and he admires your faith and obedience.

You know what I love about how the story in Joshua 6 ends? After 13 times around the city the walls came down! That is right. Why did it take 13 times of circling the walls for the walls to come down? I don’t know, but all that matters is how the story ends and the story ended with breakthrough. The men weren’t circling because they were insane, they were circling because they had faith.

People all around you might tell you that you are insane. It might even be your closest friends or family members, but I want to encourage you in your journey. Whether it had seemed as though you have been walking in circles for year after year or you are trying a new approach every day, know that what the world defines as insanity, God defines as faith and the last time I checked God’s opinion is the only one that matters!

PS. Did you see the announcement I made?

PPS. Have you picked up a copy of my book? Buy In Due Time, a 60-day devotional for hope + encouragement in the waiting.

PPPS. I created a group on facebook as an extension of my book + blog to discuss anything + everything. Women only! Come join us!

{Let’s Connect} Facebook • Instagram • Bloglovin • Pinterest • Google + • Twitter •