4/01/2024
How is it possible to live optimistically in a pessimistic time? It can take place when you embrace deep in your soul: “This I know for certain: God is on my side.” Psalm 56:9b (VOICE)
An optimism based in an unshakable belief that God is on your side has real life effects. According to the Harvard Medical School, optimism helps reduce hypertension, protect against developing heart disease, lower respiratory tract infections, and benefit overall health.
Psychologist Dan J. Tomasulo says:
- People who are high in hope have sustainably better mental and physical well-being.
- They tend to live longer and happier lives.
- They see and respond to the world differently and use their thoughts to focus on what they can control.
- They are optimistic about their future and see challenges as opportunities to grow and learn rather than obstacles.
- They respond to setbacks with optimism, set positive goals, associate with positive people, and focus on present pathways to self-improvement with confidence.
Wise King Solomon observed: “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NLT) This means that our heavenly Father does not love us because we deserve God’s love, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Romans 3:23 (CSB)
Optimism for Jesus followers is not based on a belief in our own goodness and perfection. Our optimism is grounded in the deep love of God.
Our heavenly Father loves us because “God is love” 1 John 4:8b (NLT). God loves us because God’s very nature is love. God loves us, not because of who we are, but in spite of who we are: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 (NLT)
It is God’s unconditional, passionate love for us that is our sustaining hope and reason for optimism in our broken world.
As Tim Keller says: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
-Michael