I should be insane—or in jail
Posted on September 25, 2007
Filed Under Personal |
Several weeks ago I was invited to share part of my story in a chapel setting at Focus on the Family. Each month our staff is encouraged by outstanding music and an inspiring guest speaker. From the inception of Focus, Dr. Dobson believed these regular gatherings were an important component of equipping the team as they strive to serve others with excellence and staying healthy spiritually. I invite you to eavesdrop on that message delivered September 7th (see audio player below).
By the way, as the story unfolds you might be tempted to think that I should be either insane or in jail. At least that’s what folks often tell me when they hear the details of my childhood. It’s also possible that your story will dovetail with part of my journey at times. 
If so, you understand what it feels like to be crushed in spirit.
Looking back, I can say God desires to use our brokenness — whether it’s the difficult trials in a strained marriage, the challenges inherent in raising kids, perhaps a sudden illness, or an unexpected unemployment — for His glory. How? That’s up to Him.
What I do know for certain is that no matter what things may look like today, God makes sure none of the pain we experience in this lifetime is wasted. No wonder one of my favorite promises of the Bible is found in the book of Psalms. King David, no stranger to distress, wrote, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (34:18). Now that’s incredible news!
[For an audio download, go to: http://jimdalyblog.com/audio/daly.mp3]
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3 Responses to “I should be insane—or in jail”
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Jim Daly is the President of Focus on the Family. He has been married to his wife, Jean, since 1986. They have two sons. The Daly family resides in Colorado Springs. Finding Home represents Jim's musings on work, family and faith.
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Thank you for these good words.
In my lifetime what I have found………without exception, is that whenever I meet a truly godly man or woman, I later find out that such a person has gone through great hardship.this seems to be God’s way.
“”…tribulation brings about perseverance, character,….. hope. (Romans 5:3)
God bless you Mr. Daly.
Robert
How do you know you’re not insane?
I’m almost certain you could tell if you were in jail.
I dislike the words “SANE & INSANE”, so far from biblical as they are. I see those words as modern man’s justification for their behavior.
SANENESS is typically an external judgement, it justifies EVIL behavior in a way that relieves the guilty of guilt and makes society shoulder the burden.
“It wasn’t me…..it was simply a chemical imbalance or a short circuit in my being, how could I possibly have done differently, surely you understand, it’s not as if I’m evil or bad or something like that.”
You’re not INSANE in my book, you’re GOOD folk far as I can tell!
thank you for your testimony, i am a product of an abusive household, and have battled serious dysfunctions and problems throughout my life, from questioning why God allowed me to be born, to why some people have to go through so much suffering. I now know that God is in all of the pain and failure and that he desires to turn our mess into a miracle if we let him. Thank you so much for your testimony, i gave me hope.