Sacred Minutes

For a long time, I thought my diagnosis was my name.

Bipolar
Paranoid
Manic
Depressed
Unstable

But Scripture never introduces Mary Magdalene by her diagnosis. Instead, we see Mary, “from whom seven demons had gone out,” which immediately leads into “who provided for them out of her means.” Luke 8:1-3

Scripture mentions her past, but it doesn’t focus on it. Her identity in the story is as a disciple, supporter, and someone present with Jesus. She would go on to follow Him to the grave and be the first to learn of His resurrection.

We can’t deny that her past, her diagnosis, if you will, was part of her story. Just as it is part of mine. Bipolar is part of my story, but it only becomes my whole story if I allow it to. I cannot completely separate myself from it, just as Scripture doesn’t separate Mary from her demons. But we see much more of Mary than her past, just as I pray people see more of me than my Bipolar.

Jesus doesn’t define us by our issues. Our value isn’t based on what the world deems worthy. Our true value comes from being a child of God, righteous because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and adopted into His Royal Kingdom. This is where our focus should be— not on the diagnoses the world places on us.

For me, that means holding multiple definitions at once. On paper, I’m Bipolar, which often feels louder than my name. On hard days, my diagnosis screams at me that I’m too much, too broken, too unstable. There are days when my mood swings feel like the only true thing about me, and I’m convinced that’s all anyone else can see, too.

But Scripture doesn’t place any of those things on me. When I open Scripture, I see words like beloved, chosen, redeemed, and called. That is what Jesus brings to me. God knows my brain chemistry, my medications, my therapy notes, my physical health, and dietary changes that I use to support my mental health – and He still calls me by name (Isaiah 43:1), not by my diagnosis.

So, I take my meds. I go to therapy. I follow my schedules and stick to my guardrails. I write Bible studies and fantasy novels with the same brain that sometimes betrays me. That is me following Jesus in the middle of Bipolar disorder. Just like Mary followed Him with her whole story trailing behind her. My diagnosis may describe part of my experience, but it does not get the final say on who I am. That belongs to my Savior.