The Vortex of One’s Self, A Biblical Reflection on Cycles, Submission, and Salvation
The Vortex of One’s Self
A Biblical Reflection on Cycles, Submission, and Salvation
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
— often attributed to Albert Einstein
There is a vortex that is not seen with the eyes, yet it pulls harder than gravity.
It is the vortex of one’s self.
It is the cycle of repeated patterns.
The same choices.
The same relationships.
The same reactions.
The same destruction.
And yet, we expect a different harvest.
Scripture is clear about this law:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
— Galatians 6:7 (KJV)
We reap what we sow.
Not what we hope.
Not what we post.
Not what we declare without action.
The Quicksand of Repetition
Breaking patterns is hard. It feels like addiction. You can attend counseling sessions. You can check into rehab. You can go to conferences, seminars, healing retreats, life coaches, motivational summits, and TED Talks.
The “industry of escape” is a multi-million dollar machine.
From luxury wellness resorts to viral self-help influencers, the world offers temporary relief. You can unplug for a weekend. Meditate in the mountains. Detox your body. Silence your phone.
But when it is over, you return home unchanged in spirit.
And you do the same thing again.
Peter warned us plainly:
“But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
— 2 Peter 2:22 (KJV)
It is harsh imagery. But truth often is.
We clean up externally.
Yet internally, nothing has shifted.
So the vortex pulls us back.
The Illusion of Change Without Surrender
Until you realize that only God can lift you out of the vortex — out of the quicksand that slowly suffocates your spirit — nothing truly changes.
You cannot self-will your way out of spiritual bondage.
You cannot motivational-speech your way into transformation.
David understood this:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
— Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
He did not say, “I will create in myself.”
He said, “Create in me.”
There is a submission required.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
Stillness is terrifying for those addicted to noise.
The world distracts you so you never confront yourself.
And if you never confront yourself, you never confront the root.
The system will keep you alive — barely.
Just enough comfort.
Just enough dopamine.
Just enough distraction.
But never enough truth to set you free.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
— John 8:32 (KJV)
Freedom requires truth.
Truth requires humility.
Humility requires surrender.
When Advice Turns Into Conflict
Recently, I spoke with someone who has told me for years they were going to change their life. They would say, “I’m going to fix this. I’m going to do that.”
But they never implemented the counsel given.
It became heated from my side. I said plainly, “I’ve told you how to make this work. You never apply it.”
Then I said something that shocked them:
“Once you give me $5,000, I’ll help you.”
They asked, “Why?”
I said, “Because without skin in the game, you never commit to the game.”
Sometimes pain must be felt before change is embraced.
God Himself shows us this pattern.
Israel did not cry out for deliverance in comfort — they cried out in bondage.
Jonah did not repent on the shoreline — he repented in the belly of a great fish.
The prodigal son did not come to himself in abundance — he came to himself in famine.
“And when he came to himself, he said… I will arise and go to my father.”
— Luke 15:17–18 (KJV)
Pain awakens clarity.
Not all pain is punishment.
Sometimes it is mercy.
The Burden of Being the One People Come To
If you are the person everyone comes to for advice — the “I’ve been there, done that” voice of experience — understand something:
You have limits.
Even Moses had limits.
“And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
Thou wilt surely wear away…”
— Exodus 18:17–18 (KJV)
You cannot save everyone.
And when you begin setting boundaries, expect resistance.
Some will turn on you.
Some will accuse you.
Some will say you changed.
But what is really happening?
You are no longer enabling the vortex.
Birds eventually push their young from the nest. It feels cruel in the moment. But it is the gateway to flight.
Even Jesus did not chase those who walked away.
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
— John 6:66 (KJV)
He let them go.
You are not a savior.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
— Acts 4:12 (KJV)
Only God saves.
The Vortex and the Modern World
In today’s headlines we see rising addiction rates, mental health crises, financial instability, and endless cycles of outrage in media and politics. Society promises progress, yet anxiety and depression statistics continue climbing. Technology advances — but inner peace declines.
Why?
Because information without transformation is noise.
We scroll.
We vent.
We blame.
We repeat.
The vortex expands.
The enemy does not need to destroy you quickly.
He only needs to keep you distracted long enough.
If You Are Stuck
If you are stuck, listen carefully:
There must be discomfort.
There must be cutting away.
There must be repentance.
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
— John 3:3 (KJV)
New birth is not a self-help upgrade.
It is death to the old pattern.
Respect those who try to guide you.
And if you have lashed out at them because they confronted you — apologize.
God understands when we blame Him for storms we created.
But He also waits.
“The Lord is… longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
Repentance is not shame.
It is escape velocity from the vortex.
Final Word
You cannot outthink the vortex.
You cannot outwork it.
You cannot outspend it.
You must surrender.
Be still.
Let God move your soul, your spirit, your will.
Allow Him to break the pattern.
Because the cycle will either break you —
or bow before Him.
Choose which one.
— The Artist ONE
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