In the year of my 31st birthday, I had made some terrible choices that sent my family and my extended family at large into a spiral of chaos. It was the beginning of my long, dark, uncontrollable journey with Bipolar Disorder. At the time I did not know what was happening. What’s more, I was a professional Minister of the Catholic Church, leaving my family for what I thought was my true calling to be with another. I was in a very bad state of mind and heart.

In June of that year; I was invited to a birthday party for me…31 + 6 months. Upon arriving I saw several friends, lots of party decorations and a purple candle burning in the midst of several small birthday gifts on a table.

At one point in the evening, I went to open the gifts and knocked the candle onto the floor; breaking it in almost halfway up. I picked up the candle, held it up to my friend and said, “I’m sorry for being so clumsy,”  I paused, “but this is really a perfect metaphor to how I feel. I’m broken and the light of God is not shining from me in the least. I am having a lot of trouble believing in an unconditionally loving God.”

My friend took the candle from me, lite the broken end of the candle and said, “Well, it seems to be working just fine. The light is still shining; it’s just coming from a different angle.”  She continued, “You know David, believing in God is not nearly as important as knowing He believes in you.”

 I’d not thought of that before.  God believing in me?  Then why all of the “pressure” Christians feel to believe in God to get to Heaven?  It seemed like my whole “belief system” was being turned upside down, until it started to sink in months later. 

I Believe In You is a song where Jesus is the singer sharing a message of compassion, patience, support, encouragement, challenge and trust. I hope you hear the same message; I Believe In YOU