The Optimism of Christianity

Optimism of ChristianityPop Quiz: What is your attitude toward your future currently?

1. I expect good things to happen to me mostly and look to the future with confidence and faith.

– Or

2. I expect bad things to happen to me mostly and look to the future with fear and doubt.

  • If you answered #1, then your attitude tends toward optimism.
  • If you answered #2 then your attitude tends toward pessimism.

After discovering the definition of optimism, plus several studies about the benefits of an optimistic attitude, I thought to myself:

”Christians have so many reasons for optimism!”

Why?

Hope, confidence, and optimism fill God’s promises in the Bible.

After that thought, I wrote down 5 Christians beliefs that shape an optimistic attitude.

The more you renew your mind to these truths, the more you’ll develop an optimistic attitude.

You’ll become a person who looks to the future with confidence and expects good things to happen to them.

Plus, you’ll get the scriptures to support each of these truths. Prepare for encouragement!

Before I give the 5 beliefs however, let me share the benefits of cultivating an optimistic attitude, based on the scientific studies I found.

The Benefits of an Optimistic Attitude

People who cultivate an optimistic attitude tend to experience more positive results in life:

An Optimistic Attitude Built on God’s Promises

Here are the 5 Christians beliefs that shape an optimistic attitude naturally and the scriptures that support them.

After all, we don’t call the gospel the good news for nothing!

1. God loves us.

We believe that we became Christians on the basis of God’s love. He wanted to reconcile with us through giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

2. God has a great plan for our lives.

God created us on purpose and for a purpose.

Therefore, our purpose is not just to hang out on this Earth, but to glorify God.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

3. God is with us during hardships.

Jesus never promised us an easy road; He said that we would have tribulations, but we are never alone in them.

God has given us everything we need to face life challenges with courage and confidence.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).’”

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”

4. God has given us everything we need to succeed.

God has equipped us to succeed in doing what He calls us to do with His wisdom and by His Spirit.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:2-4).

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).”

5. When our lives on Earth are over, we will live on in Eternity with Jesus.

Christians have no need to fear death; when we pass away on Earth, we merely change addresses! Our lives continue on in the presence of the Lord.

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40).”

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him (John 6:27).”

So you see, Christianity is full of optimism, which Christians can grab hold of in the midst of trials.

We recognize that all trials are temporary, but our life in Christ is eternal.

Our beliefs are based on our relationship with Him and our position in Him.

Therefore our hope is rooted in Him, not the things of this world.

If you ever find yourself drifting into pessimism, full of doubt when you look to the future and mostly expecting bad things to happen to you, then encourage yourself with these words that King David wrote:

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God (Psalm 42:11 ).”

Focus on gratitude for God’s presence and find strength in His promises.

Your vision of the future will become brighter and you will face it with confidence.

It’s not just about what you know, but Who you know!

Be blessed with health, healing and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor, Creator of the Take Back Your Temple program

P.S. Tired of carrying emotional weight?

The value of the Take Back Your Temple program is that you will learn how to think differently through Biblical truth.

You’ll discover how to lay aside emotional weight and walk in freedom.

Join a support community of other empowered Christians discovering how to release weight and keep it off.

Click here to become a Take Back Your Temple program member.

About the author 

Kimberly Taylor

Kimberly Taylor is a certified Christian life coach and has a heart to help others struggling with emotional eating and weight loss. Once 240 pounds and a size 22, she can testify of God’s goodness and healing power to overcome. She lost 85 pounds as a result of implementing techniques to overcome emotional eating and binge eating disorder.

Kim is the author of "The Take Back Your Temple Program," which teaches Christians how to take control of their weight God's way and the books "The Weight Loss Scriptures" and "The Weight Loss Prayers."

Kim has been featured in Prevention Magazine, Charisma Magazine and on CBN’s 'The 700 Club' television program.

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