Standing in the Breach: A Call for Balance in a Bipolar World

The concept of standing in the breach first came to me one morning a couple of years ago during a walk in my neighborhood. Walking has always been my time to commune with God—prayer in motion, a space for clarity to emerge. On this particular morning, the universe—or God—presented me with a question: 'Will you stand in the breach and not back down?' Without hesitation, I replied yes, not fully realizing what I was stepping into.

What followed was a period of deep introspection, as I was confronted with the shadows of my own thoughts, words, and actions. Past traumas surfaced, demanding to be acknowledged and healed. Little did I know that when I said yes to standing in the breach, it wasn’t just about the world’s divisions—I was being called to close the breach within myself. The gap between conscious and unconscious thought, between intention and action, between knowing and doing. It was a humbling process, one that brought clarity, discernment, and a heightened intuition. Divine inspirations began to flow, guiding me toward a deeper understanding of my purpose and the work that needed to be done.

Standing in the Breach: Defending Mental and Spiritual Health

In military terms, standing in the breach refers to soldiers holding back an attack when all other defenses have failed. When it comes to our own mental health, we must be our own best defense, holding back attacks on our sanity. These attacks come without warning or justification—from people, places, events, and even our own thoughts.

Speaking truth into the world, even with the best intentions, can invite a storm of opposition. A simple call for kindness, decency, and peace can provoke hostility, where words land like grenades on the psyche. Bravery in one moment may be followed by a week of silence, exhaustion from the emotional wounds inflicted by those who thrive on division.

Worse still, we are often our own worst enemy—self-sabotaging our peace and joy with choices that do not serve us. Each day, we are called to stand in our own breach, warding off attacks, whether external or self-inflicted, and striving to be the best version of ourselves. The battlefield of the mind is relentless, but in the chaos, wisdom and intuition are waiting to emerge—if we allow them the space to do so.

A Bipolar World in Need of Healing

We live in a bipolar world, swinging between extremes—politically, socially, economically, and even spiritually. The pendulum swings violently, from extreme conservatism that seeks to control, to extreme liberalism that promotes entitlement without accountability. Neither side holds the answers because truth, peace, and prosperity are found in the Middle Way.

The Middle Way calls for self-awareness and self-control above all else. It teaches that not every thought should be spoken and that not everything we think should be believed. It requires discernment, balance, and the ability to resist the chaotic swings of society’s bipolar pendulum.

Standing in the Breach for Others

Biblically, to stand in the breach means to act on behalf of those who cannot act for themselves. Moses stood in the breach for the Israelites, turning away divine wrath (Psalm 106:23). Ezekiel 22:30 describes God searching for someone to stand in the gap, to uphold righteousness and protect the people from destruction.

Today, many are unable to stand in their own breach—whether due to mental illness, physical hardship, or spiritual despair. Some refuse to see their own role in the chaos, while others lack the strength to resist it. Standing in the breach is not just about personal resilience; it is about using our strength, wisdom, and voice to help those who cannot yet help themselves.

The Weapon of Mass Destruction: The Mind

Perhaps the greatest threat to humanity is not war, disease, or climate catastrophe—it is the unchecked, unhealed mind. The mind, left in a state of imbalance, creates destruction. It fuels division. It rationalizes deceit, manipulation, and greed.

A society in mental and spiritual distress cannot govern itself with wisdom or integrity. This is the real breach we must stand in—not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come. We must restore respect, civility, honesty, and integrity in everything we think, say, and do. The healing of a nation begins in the heart and mind of each individual willing to stand in the breach.

The Call to Action

In Jackson Browne’s song Standing in the Breach, he sings of resilience, justice, and the pursuit of a better world despite overwhelming odds. His words echo the responsibility we all have—to stand firm in truth, to mend what is broken, and to resist the forces that seek to divide and destroy.

The question remains: Will you stand in the breach and not back down? Will you have the courage to hold the line between chaos and balance, destruction and healing?

The Middle Way calls. The world needs those who will answer.