“Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity…Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity…”
The words on the screen drew me in, and enveloped me as I sang. This was my song, and I knew it. The song is “Mystery” by Charlie Hall, and the worship pastor chose well that day.
For me, the words to the song have special meaning, because insanity runs in my family. My mother died at 47 years of age in a state mental institution. She died of metastatic breast cancer, but nobody remembers that. My sister died at 37 years of age of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was a desperate act by a person running out of options to continue her life of drug and alcohol abuse. But nobody remembers that, either. What they remember is that these two people struggled in their minds. People remember their “insanity”.
Long ago, I gave up trying to figure things out, and I gave up asking why. I decided that if I continued to go round and round in my mind, debating questions with no answers, and raging at the inequity of that, I would go crazy myself. I accepted the fact that we will never have all of the answers, and I let it go.
And since then, Jesus Christ has absolutely become my sanity, and my clarity. He is my Counselor, and my Antidepressant. He is my Hope, and the Answer (for me) to everything. This is a mystery that I’m not sure I can explain. But it all started with being alone with Him. I went to Him regularly for a relationship, after years of being a Christian in a loveless religion. And I was completely changed.
“Jesus…Mystery…”
Human relationships are hard, and they take some of the greatest effort we will ever expend. In fact, they take everything we have to give, don’t they? And we certainly need sanity and clarity for starters.
I can’t explain the Mystery of Christ, and I really can’t explain how He changed me. But I can say this: if your relationships are suffering, or if YOU are suffering, go to Him. Don’t run! He is Faithful. He is True. And He loves you more than your frail human mind can conceive. He is the Answer, the Key, to everything.
“Christ has died, and…Christ is risen. And Christ will come again.”
Sounds like insanity, doesn’t it? Sometimes, as they say, the Truth is stranger than fiction. And the Truth, my friend, is a Person Who can set you free.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
(Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)
‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
(John 14:6, NIV)
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:32, NKJV)
He is definitely "more than enough." Beauty in writing. Thank you Stephanie. I am definitely sharing this -
What an encouragement you are, Susan. Thank you.
Stephanie, you really have a way with words. We are all a bit "insane" but it's alright because God understands and He is SANE. Thanks for sharing. Becky
Thank for being YOU, Becky. I love you. ♥
And P.S. AMEN!
stephanie, i've missed reading your words. these ring so loudly and true for me today. my sister is wanting to be admitted to a residential mental health facility b/cs she's just at the cusp of breaking thru some really hard stuff and she needs room to do it. her current counselor asked her to do a genogram and they looked at it together to see what patterns emerged… yeah, lots of "insanity" in our side of the family. it's hard, this breaking/undoing/flawedness. and yet he is still GOOD and perfect and healer. i love how he breaks me so he can perfect me.
I've missed reading your words, too, Misty.
Bless you.
HUG.
Oh Stephanie, how I needed that reminder this day. He is a mystery and the only One who will set me Free! That is my mission to women to let them know Jesus is the Free-er! He is the only One. So why should I be surprised when the evil one attempts to bind me up with crap-o-la!!!! But amazingly as the crap-o-la comes, I still bite right into it.
Jesus! You are all the I need, You are mine but more importantly, I AM YOURS AND YOU LOVE ME!
Thanks Stephanie for a powerful reminder, word from the Lord for me…
Thank you, Peggy!
Stephanie, I enjoyed this today. There is so much going on in my family, even right now with my granddaughter and there has been a history of mental illness in my family in past generations. And for years, not knowing that, I thought it strange why I had so many problems and had tried numerous times to kill myself. But, thanks be to God, Jesus intervened and set me free miraculously without medication. And I have never once since that time had the desire to commit suicide, even with going through some very difficult times. I shall forever Praise His Name!
Oh, Koenia, thank you for that encouragement! Thank you. It means more than I can say.
I, too, have miraculously avoided medication of any kind.
(Thanks to my Sweet Sanity.)
God Bless You Sista! What wonderful encouragement this morning. For the past several weeks, I've watched my family struggle in our relationships. Thank you for the reminder that Christ Himself is our Truth. Apart from Him, there is nothing else we need to know or do. I am so thankful to Him for teaching me how to pray more fervently and intensely for others (just as I know some do for me). I look at times in my life, and I know He is the ONLY one who was able to give me the sanity and clarity that I needed. Yet, sometimes I still struggle with just continuing to go to that supply when necessary. So, thank you soooooo much my dear sister for reminding that He is the One who is truly able to set us free.
Bless you, sweet Sister. ♥
This is right on time Stephanie! SO powerful!
Thank you, Angelia!
Oh, Steph, without Him the whole world is insane! Thanks for the reminder today. Love you!
Rene', your comment is precious, and true. THANK YOU! ♥