Jon Allen

How is your level of crazy these days? If you're like most of us, the answer to that question would be, "My level of crazy is pretty high these days."

Our crazy, as we call it, is really the overwhelming pressures we feel from many different sources in various and always changing amounts. It comes from sources such as pressures at work or relationships filled with tension and discouragement. Our crazy could be the pressures of finances or the remembrance of the loss of a loved one. There is no way to write an inclusive list of those things that add to our crazy. But, to some degree, we all feel it.

It's so easy to let our crazy overtake us and cause levels of anxiety that it feels as though the weight of the world is on our shoulders. Is this ringing true with anyone today? 

The question becomes what can we do about it. How can we find help to walk through our crazy today and then wake up and do it again tomorrow? 

I have two suggestions for us, and I say us because nobody is immune from crazy. First, find a group of friends who are supportive and encouraging. Friends with whom you can share everything and anything. And as a pastor, I will always recommend a strong Bible believing, Bible teaching church where you can find those who care and will be there for you.

Hebrews 10:23-25 touches on the benefit of gathering with a church when it says, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

There is so much in those verses. The first thing is that this passage assumes a relationship with Jesus. Which means we have admitted our sin and that we trust that Jesus' death on the cross for our forgiveness gives us the ability to be in a close and abiding relationship with him. And then we commit ourselves to living this life out under his leadership, or as the Bible says, his Lordship. This relationship alone, when walked out daily and with devotion is a significant solution to our crazy.

Jesus said this to those who followed him while he was here on earth in John 14:27, "Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled or fearful." Jesus said this as he was preparing his followers for his leaving and returning to Heaven, with the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide those who follow him.

And so in these verses, we see a peace that comes from Jesus himself and the encouragement that comes from being a part of his church. I don't mean to oversimplify our crazy or think this covers every solution for our crazy, but I do know from experience in a relationship with Jesus and close connection to his people in the church, my crazy becomes much more manageable and peace is more easily attainable.

If your crazy is too much and you're finding it hard to even get up and tackle this day, first seek a deep and abiding relationship with the source of peace, real peace in Jesus. And second, if you don't already have one, find a Bible believing, Bible teaching church and go all in. These are great ways to start to calm the crazy.

(Jon Allen is the associate pastor of Grace Point in Powell.)