Stop the Insanity! Step Out of Toxic Cycles

“The definition of insanity is doing something over and over and expecting a different result.”  – Author Unknown

Although there is no proof that Albert Einstein was the originator of the above quote, and evidence points to the contrary, it is still a wise saying. However, although this quote we wrongly attribute this quote to him, Einstein’s name appears with this quote in thousands of books, and on mugs and t-shirts and inspirational posters the world over. This tickles my ironic sense of humour.

Unfortunately, logic does not dictate that if enough people say Einstein originated the quote then it must be true he wrote it.

Have you ever wondered why we continue to do something again and again, such as pass on a misquote, even though it is not giving us the results we wished for and probably never will?

The remote control that needs new batteries won’t work for you no matter how you bang it or try to adjust your angle to the television. If you can barely pull the zipper up on a tight pair of jeans after a ten-minute struggle, those jeans are unflattering. The elevator won’t come any faster no matter how many times you press the up button. You won’t get your husband to pick up his socks by nagging or passive-aggressive sighing. You’ll only go deeper in debt by transferring your outstanding credit balance from one card to another and back again.

If you can relate to any of the above scenarios, you do not differ from the rest of humanity.

Since the beginning of time, mankind has struggled with self-deception. Cain tried to deceive God, even though he lived with the consequences of his parent’s attempt to deceive their Creator.  Every generation of the Jewish nation received an oral history that gave plenty of evidence that rebelling against God was not a good idea. And yet, generation after generation stubbornly followed their forefather’s sinful footsteps, then bitterly complaining to God as they suffered the consequences of their actions.

Even Solomon, world renown for his wisdom, fell into the same deception. Over several decades, he entered relationships with women who did not serve Yahweh. Each relationship dragged him deeper and deeper into sin and idolatry. Although Solomon urged his sons to flee from temptation, he ignored his own advice. A man of his great intellect must have seen the correlation of his poor choices and the lack of morals in his sons. However, Solomon continued to make those poor choices, again and again. Within decades of his death, his kingdom was divided and all his legacy destroyed.


Personal Application

God has always had an antidote for such insanity. He only asks that we follow his prescription.

1. Admit that what we are doing is not working for us. We need to admit that we don’t have all the answers. (Humility)

1 Peter 5:4-7 – “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

2. Stop doing what we are doing and take ownership of the damage we have caused to ourselves and others. (Repentance)

3. Listen to His advice and follow the instructions He gives us, trusting that He has the solution for our problem and that He will lead us to that solution. (Submission, obedience, faith)

4. Stay teachable, accountable, and transparent to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

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All Bible verses attributed to the ESV version unless otherwise indicated.

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Until Next Week,

©2019 Katherine Walden

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