Optimism

by Joshua Welch

It has been one of my greatest challenges to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty, to see the upside of a situation rather than the downside, to see the potentiality for success rather than the predicting failure, to be positive rather than negative, to be
encouraging rather than complaining, to be optimistic rather than pessimistic, to look for the good rather than the flaw, to hope in the future rather than dread it, to pick people up rather than nitpick, to patiently endure rather than hastily quit.

Changing mindsets and attitudes is difficult. It’s one of the hardest things we can do. I’ve had to work hard to change my mindset (or, really, to let God change it).

No doubt there are challenges, trials, and realities in this life. But, God has the power to turn these
situations for good. We only have the right to be
negative if we have given up on God’s power to work good. And, since I have not given up on God’s power to turn around or use a situation then I’m going to choose to be optimistic in it.

It is what people of faith do. We change our mindset from doubtful negativity to hopeful trust.

  • Joseph, after years of suffering, realized “God sent me” rather than my brothers wronged me.
  • Joshua and Caleb said, “we are well able” when others were saying “we can’t.”
  • Mordecai flipped the script on Esther when she said, “now’s not the time,” and told her God may have just put her there “for such a time as this.”
  • Nehemiah’s doubters were predicting failure on the temple wall but he asked for another brick and kept building saying “I cannot come down.”
  • Paul gave up on Mark, but Barnabas gave him a second chance and took him on another trip.
  • The Pharisees gave up on sinners, but Jesus came to save and rescue them and reminded us “there is joy in the presence of the angels when one sinner repents.”
  • The disciples gave up on Jesus when He died, but He came back three days later showing Himself alive to reinvigorate their mission.

So, thank you to the people who live in optimistic, hopeful faith. You are following in the footsteps of many great victors before you. Your optimism inspires and strengthens me.

—————
Josh preaches for the Lord’s church in Anderson, Indiana. He is a regular contributor to GROW magazine (a FREE e-publication edited by William Stewart & Sean Cavender, Wichita, Kansas).

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