The Insanity of Insanity

I’m sure that you have heard the saying “The definition of insanity is repeating the same things over and over expecting different results”.  Well does that mean we are insane as in the way we think of clinically insane? Well yes and no. The medical term insanity refers to being of unsound mind, severely mentally impaired, exhibiting a severely disordered state of mind; most likely a danger to ourselves and others. Well hopefully we don’t fit that clinical definition, however, aren’t we acting insanely when we keep repeating the same thoughts, actions, behaviors, choices over and over again hoping that we will get a different outcome? I mean if you think about it that sounds pretty unsound, disordered and insane doesn’t it? So, if this is true why do we do we keep up this insanity? Well Scripture tells us that we are all born with the innate nature to sin and act foolishly without God’s intervening grace and power.

Psalm 51:5 “I was born to do wrong, a sinner before I left my mother’s womb”

Jeremiah 17:9 “No one can hide it’s evil as well as the human mind. It can be very sick and no one really understands it”

Romans 71:18 “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it”

Proverbs 26:11 “Like a dog returns to his vomit, a fool does the same foolish things again and again”

So,I think God makes it pretty clear that our natural nature and our minds are bent toward wrong and acting foolish.  I know no one likes to be called a fool or insane but that is exactly what we are acting like when we keep repeating the same things over and over expecting different results. To help us better understand what I’m talking about I’ll give you some examples:  For instance, do you end up in dysfunctional or harmful romantic relationships or friendships with toxic people like narcissists, addicts, abusers, controlling and manipulative people or codependents over and over again only to get out of that relationship and find yourself in another one? You may find yourself thinking “It will be different this time?” or we can just be friends so no worries? Then without any hesitation, boundaries, or determining if the person is appropriate, you rush headlong into it. Or maybe you struggle with some type of addiction whether it be alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, sex etc. and you try to stay clean and can manage to refrain for a time through will power, a recovery program, working the steps or some other means only to find yourself going back to those same addictions, choices, behaviors over and over? Still don’t relate? What about worrying incessantly about your life, finances, circumstances, spending sleepless nights tossing and turning rather than giving it over to God? What about helping someone over and over who won’t take responsibility for their own lives and expecting that they will change? Or maybe when we get hurt, offended, or things don’t go our way we react with anger and rage or plot revenge or the other extreme we might stuff our feelings down like they don’t matter, eventually explode and repeat the same patterns over and over? All of these things are foolish patterns we repeat over and over expecting a different outcome.  It doesn’t even really matter what the behavior is if it is bringing negative consequences to your life, stealing your joy and peace, or hindering your walk with God it is a problem.  To complicate matters, our human tendency is to try and fix these problems and behaviors on our own whether it be through the use of self-help books, white knuckling it, switching to another equally destructive behavior to replace it, diving into religion, storing up knowledge or even attending recovery programs going through the motions but with no effort to change or acceptance of our depravity and powerlessness all of which bring little to no success or lasting changes. But why do we do this you might ask? Well as I stated previously Scripture says that we are sinful and foolish by nature and we cannot free ourselves because we are powerless to do so. 

Romans 8:37 “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to “God’s law nor can it do so”

Romans 5:6 “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly”

Sounds like we are pretty helpless and powerless to change in our own strength and willpower.  So, what’s the answer? The answer is simple, the only way we can get free of our foolishness and repetitive patterns is through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:3 “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of the sinful flesh to be a sin offering”

Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of the Spirit who lives in you”

Wow! Now that’s exciting news there is hope that we can change if we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ and His power not our own. However, as I stated earlier our sinful nature and patterns are deeply ingrained in us and our mind can easily be deceived into thinking that we can do it on our own or don’t need help. This is pride and it keeps us from admitting that we are powerless over our behaviors and tendency to do wrong. Pride will keep us from getting the freedom we so desperately need because God can’t help us if we don’t humble ourselves and admit that we struggle and can’t do it on our own.  Therefore, we remain trapped in these vicious cycles that repeat over and over believing that someday they are going to miraculously change without any surrender or willingness to do it God’s way.  Pride is actually what caused Satan’s demise and if we let it, it will bring us down too and keep us from getting free. 

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”

Proverbs 29:23 “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor”

However, due to pride many people will stubbornly insist on their own way and eventually have to come to the end of themselves before they will ever admit that they may be need help, have character flaws or need to change. Not only that life and our choices always have a way of bringing us to our knees after we have lost time, relationships, money, and health, career, self esteem and if that doesn’t work, God himself will humble those who exalt themselves and is able to bring down those who live proudly. Remember Nebuchadnezzar was humbled due to his pride thinking that he was in control and powerful.

Daniel 4:37 “And those who walk in pride he is able to humble”

Other foolish and insane mindsets that will hinder our healing is self pity, fear and denial.  The man at Bethesda laid by the pool for 38 years in self pity and as a victim blaming others for his condition rather than asking for help and doing his part to receive healing. Now that’s insanity!

 John 5:7 The sick man answered Him, ‘Sir I have no man to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me”

Yes, Jesus did help him but he didn’t condone his self-pity and actually asked the man if he wanted to be made well.

John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in that condition for a long time, He said to him, Do you want to be made well”?

Not a question you would think Jesus would ask someone who has been suffering for 38 years but He did I think to make the point you have to stop making excuses, get off your pity pot, stop blaming others and admit that you have a problem and need God’s help to get well. Fear is a mindset from the enemy that can keep us stuck and insane especially fear of what others think if we aren’t perfect or fear of change; what if it’s hard. Let’s face it know one wants to be exposed and most of us don’t like change but it’s necessary to take that step out of fear into faith so that we can get the freedom that God wants for us.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind”

Proverbs 29:25 “Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety”

Denial is a dangerous mindset that we don’t have a problem, its not that bad or it will just go away on its own. However, that is deception because denying our struggles will only prolong our insanity and we will stay in bondage. After all, admitting that we have sin, character flaws or struggles doesn’t make you a bad or defective person, it just confirms you are human and in need of God’s grace and power.

1 John 1:8 “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth”

I know a lot of puffed up religious, spiritual and knowledgeable people probably wince at the idea but yes even you.  No matter how long you have been a Christian, how much Bible knowledge you have and can recite, how many times you go to church a week, how many ministries you serve in, we are all in need of some type of pruning, reconstruction, molding, shaping to become more like Him and rid ourselves of unwanted behaviors that keep us stuck. If all of this sounds harsh; its just the truth and avoiding the truth won’t change it.  I know because I struggled with things I needed to change and thought being obedient, having a lot of knowledge, being a counselor and helping others was enough but it wasn’t and God gracefully and purposely allowed me to stumble and fall right into his grace and loving arms.  Looking back, I might have could have avoided this catastrophe if I had admitted I needed help but fear and pride kept me from admitting that I needed change.  However, I am so thankful that God always meets us right where we are at and tenderly reminds us that we can’t do anything without him and leads us to freedom when we surrender. So, don’t miss out on God’s best for your life by remaining in fear, pride, denial or self-pity, and reach out for the healing that comes from Jesus so that you can put a stop to the insanity of repeating unhealthy behaviors that keep us stuck and move forward into freedom and your purpose with God. Even though its hard work, as long as you have a teachable spirit, are willing to do what God requires and remain hopeful and steadfast, with Jesus on your side, what was impossible in your own strength is possible with Him.