Yesterday I attended a conference where one of the speakers said that the definition of insanity was “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

In fact, I have heard this phrase so much, I think our culture has assumed that that is the definition. But I think within the non-insane Christian life, there are lots of things that we do over and over again and expect a different result. Two things come to mind: Prayer and Evangelism.

I have shared my faith with people and have been rejected 9 times. But for some reason on attempt number 10 they accepted that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and rose from the dead.

How about prayer? Have you ever felt insane for praying and having nothing happen? Has anyone mocked you for talking to your imaginary friend?

I can recount countless prayers that have been answered after I prayed for a long time and received no answer. I prayed for God to give me a wife when I was 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31…perhaps at year 10 I should have stopped praying, because that was insane. However, I kept praying. God brought me my beautiful and amazing wife Adrienne and I couldn’t be happier.

What is the definition of insanity?

1. The state of being seriously mentally ill; madness.
2. Extreme foolishness or irrationality.

Now many attribute “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result” to Einstein, but there is no evidence to support that. And just because Einstein said it doesn’t make it true.

In fact for those who don’t believe in an all powerful God who can do anything and is sovereign over the universe…praying and evangelism would be insane–>Extreme foolishness.

It just so happens that the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Let’s us continue in that foolishness by sharing the only hope that man has and praying like crazy that God opens hearts, heals our bodies, and redeems this broken world.