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Staying Sane

"Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing
for the wound of my people?"
(Jeremiah 8:22)


Rapper BigXthaPlug, behind bars for his son’s first birthday, unraveled, with behavior landing him in solitary confinement.

"I knew I was mentally gone when I was counting the bricks in the cell.”

“One day I just screamed out my door, ‘How the hell do y’all stay sane?’”.

How does one stay sane?

That’s a good question, especially today filled with external and internal violence and turmoil around us?

Jeremiah’s calling from God was to speak a message to Israel of God’s coming judgment and destruction due to idolatry, social injustices, and moral decay.

The judgement and consequences were Jerusalem’s siege and Babylonian captivity.

Jeremiah's message in the catastrophes was:

  • Yes, there is death, destruction, and multiple catastrophes,
  • But there is life and restoration on the other side.

Begin with Prayer.

Staying sane, I believe, begins with prayer designed to change a person internally giving perspective of hope

People often pray asking God to change something.

For example, praying for the homeless isn't expecting God to create more shelters. Instead, the prayer focuses me on homelessness so I begin thinking of ways to create change.

‘When you pray, move your feet.”

For me the Bible means praying for things needing change and I’m’ expected to “move my feet” by doing something about the change.”

Practice God’s means of Grace.

The “means” are “outward signs, words, or actions” that are “ordinary channels” by which God gives to individuals the type of grace they need.

Wesley’s three essential means of Christians observed: 

prayer, scripture and the sacrament of communion.

Practice Piety; 

prayer, sacraments, any kind of gathered worship, private devotional exercises, fasting,

Practice works Mercy:

focus on loving one’s neighbor through acts of compassion and acts of justice.

Trust.

God gives you strength for this journey.


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