God created you to be filled with love, joy, confidence, and success. But you have probably noticed how easy it is to hold on to the negative—anger, jealousy, guilt, and doubt. Do you tend to focus on the positive or the negative? Do you see the glass half full or half empty? One of the best ways to live a positive life is to cultivate optimism.
Negativity takes space away from all the positive things God designed for you to enjoy. Positive living does not mean we are in denial of problems. Optimism simply means to approach hardship in a more productive way. Research shows that optimists perform better in school, at work, and on the playing field. They earn a higher income, have more successful relationships, and have better health. Possessing an optimistic outlook also increases one’s life expectancy.
The 2010 Copiapó mining accident in Chile captivated the attention of millions around the world. Thirty-three miners were trapped 2,300 feet underground in a copper-gold mine. Their emergency shelter had an area of 540 square feet. Food supplies were extremely limited. Each day was filled with perils and bad turns, but the men worked as a team to keep their morale and spirits up.
José Henríquez, a preacher and a miner for the past 33 years, served as the pastor and organized daily prayers. During their first audio contact with surface officials, another miner called Urzúa disregarded their hunger and despair and instead said, “We're fine and waiting for you to rescue us!” An estimated 5.3 million people worldwide watched as the 33 miners were miraculously extracted from below. What kept these extraordinary men alive during their 69-day ordeal? It was their unrelenting optimism and faith in God.
If you are prone to look at the dark side of life, you can reprogram your mind with the Word of God. Recognize what you can and cannot control. For example, getting laid off is out of your control. However, taking steps to be proactive, updating your resume, and searching for a new job is within your control. Throughout the day, be mindful of God’s blessings in your life— whether that is hitting three green lights in a row or coming home to hug your beautiful family. Create a daily or weekly “To-Do List” in order to better set goals and budget your time. Turn off the news and negative press. Envision yourself as a victor and not a victim. Dwell on what is true, pure, and of good report. Be a blessing to someone else.
The definition of optimism is to be hopeful and confident about the future. Yet, there is a difference between optimism and faith. To be optimistic is to have a positive attitude towards one’s own ability or circumstances. To have faith is to believe God and trust in His ability. Faith says, “I will beat cancer, overcome addiction, pay off debt, and see my whole family saved.” Optimism takes us further, but faith delivers the impossible!
In John chapter 11, Jesus is told that his friend Lazarus is dying. Despite the grave situation, Jesus does not panic. In fact, he lingers two more days and reassures everyone that Lazarus is just “sleeping.” By the time Jesus visits Mary and Martha, their brother has died and been buried for four days. Jesus does not just consider the facts but lets his faith arise. He walks to the tomb and says, “This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God.” Then he commands Lazarus to come out of the grave and he does. What caused Jesus such discharge of power to turn a negative situation around? It was not just optimism or positivity—it was faith.
Real faith clings to God! Faith takes the pressure off of you and shifts your focus on God. I encourage you not just to be optimistic but also to have faith in God. When you do that, you can move mountains. Your situation may look impossible, but God can do the impossible. When you have faith, God’s promises will come true. You can be confident that God will turn every negative situation around. Cultivate optimism but let us grow in faith. When we do that, it pleases God and releases His power to produce what He has promised.
“I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty” (Philippians 4:13 TPT).
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