When in doubt, check it out. How we deal with confusing times is important. Just because someone is confused does not mean that they are “going crazy.” Jesus’ relatives and others thought he had gone crazy and told others not to listen to him:
Mark 3:21,22 (DARBY); “And his relatives having heard [of it] went out to lay hold on him, for they said, He is out of his mind. 22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, He has Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons he casts out demons.
John 10:20 (DARBY); “But many of them said, He has a demon and raves; why do ye hear him?”
Jesus gave us a perfect example on how to deal with confusing thoughts. When Jesus was tempted by the Devil (Matthew 4:1-11 (DARBY)/ Luke 4:1-13 (ASV)), Satan tried to sow seeds of doubt in Jesus’ mind. Jesus simply stated, “It is written,” multiple times. So we need to check the scriptures for answers and not rely on what we “think” sounds right.
But Jesus, full of [the] Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness
2 forty days, tempted of the devil; and in those days he did not eat anything, and when they were finished he hungered.
3 And the devil said to him, If thou be Son of God, speak to this stone, that it become bread.
4 And Jesus answered unto him saying, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And [the devil], leading him up into a high mountain, shewed him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said to him, I will give thee all this power, and their glory; for it is given up to me, and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If therefore *thou* wilt do homage before me, all [of it] shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answering him said, It is written, Thou shalt do homage to [the] Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.
9 And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the edge of the temple, and said to him, If thou be Son of God, cast thyself down hence;
10 for it is written, He shall give charge to his angels concerning thee to keep thee;
11 and on [their] hands shall they bear thee, lest in any wise thou strike thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said to him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt [the] Lord thy God.
13 And the devil, having completed every temptation, departed from him for a time.
By carefully examining God’s word, the inspired scriptures, we can come to sound conclusions. Just like trying to learn another language, learning something new about God can be confusing, at first. It can challenge deeply rooted beliefs. If you are confused, go over relevant scriptural passages many times. When you do, you will find that things will get clearer and you will be able to discern what is true.
I do not claim perfection. In spite of this, I always do my best when it comes to telling people about God’s word and his purposes. I hate falsehood in God’s name. I do not know how to explain it, other than this is who I am.
All my children inspire me. I await the time when I can see all my children together, along with my parents and other relatives and friends speaking the language of the Almighty. I hope that my dream of all of us sitting on a hillside, with the sun upon us, enjoying the day and the company of all of us in God’s kingdom, comes true. I believe it will.