What we see or experience growing up can paint a view of the world good or bad. For me as a child I saw good and bad, but the bad tainted me for many years and I had a very pessimistic outlook on life.

But praise be to God through His Son Jesus Christ, I was able to make a choice to no longer live a pessimistic life.

I don’t know if any of you as Believers have ever placed their faith in a “lesser god” because of a misunderstanding of faith. I remember a time in my journey where I did. I stubbornly clung to the belief that I will receive whatever I want if “I “believe hard enough. At that time, I didn’t realize I had false optimism. What I had previously clung to is not based on the sovereign nature of God, but on my own ability to believe hard enough to get what “I” wanted.

Biblical optimism is the result of faith in the character of God. The Bible refers to this as “hope” (Romans 15:13. When we hope in God, we put our trust in His sovereign plan above what our circumstances tell us (Romans 8:23-35).

Regardless of what happens in this life, we know that God sees, cares and will wipe every tear from our eyes when we are forever with Him (Revelation 21:4). This promise gives us confidence to choose to have an optimistic outlook, even in the most difficult circumstances.

Biblical optimism doesn’t place emphasis on earthly events. It can and does accept difficult circumstances because it believes that “ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE” (Romans 8:28). This verse is quoted so often, but have you really taken the time to grasp the depth of its meaning? Godly hope looks beyond what we understand to viewing life from God’s perspective.

God designed us to live with hope (Psalm 43:5).

Biblical optimism is a choice. When we choose to trust God for EVERYTHING, we can rest in His promises to take care of us  the way He sees fit, even in what we view as the most difficult situation(Philippians 4:19; Romans 5:2-5).
 

Choosing biblical optimism allows us to cast our care upon Him(1 Peter 5:7), let our request be made unto God (Philippians 4:6) and accept His peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Knowing that we have a loving heavenly Father who desires to care for us and provide for us is the key to viewing life from God’s perspective (Matthew 6:8).

 

PEARLStoPONDER: Are you living your life looking through your own lens with the belief that “you” have control over what happens based off what you see?

Lamentations 3:21-23--But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope²² the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;²³ they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

John 14:27-- Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.