"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:7
Can you imagine how Adam and Eve felt when they got booted out of the garden by God? (Genesis 3:23-24) Life has been hard ever since, and sinful humans have seemingly been complaining the entire time.
Then, I read the book of Genesis and marveled at Joseph. Wow. He wasn’t just abandoned by his brothers – he was sold into slavery by them. Those who bought Joseph took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. (v. 37:21-36) As if that wasn’t enough – Potiphar’s wife had a desire for Joseph, and when he wouldn’t cave to her wants, had Joseph falsely accused of raping her and thrown into prison for “some time,” when then he helped Pharoah’s chief cupbearer. The cupbearer had promised to speak to Pharoah on Joseph’s behalf – but immediately forgot all about him for two years! (Gen 39 – 41:1) If anyone had reason to be negative and complain…Joseph was it, wasn’t he? Instead, what does he say to his brothers when they are reunited?
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20
How did he stay so positive all those years? He trusted God.
The Power of Positive Thinking
Negativity seems too often to be part of human nature. Enough so that a book, “The Power of Positive Thinking”, by Norman Vincent Peale hit the best seller list for a great many years. Yet the overall human attitude didn’t change. In fact, so-called self-help books outsell every other genre of book – except the Bible. Self-help tapes, courses, etc., may seem to help for a short time, but we fall right back into it, don’t we?
Like children, we complain when things don’t go “our way”; we protest about “our rights”; we complain about politics and the economy. Even the weather, it seems. We moan about how hard life is – and it is.
It is more or less understandable for those who do not know Christ to be negative. After all, this world is everything to them – they have nothing else to look forward to. When all is said and done, they only have the chaos and misery of this world. But we do have to wonder how a believer’s attitude can remain negative. To do so must mean we aren’t seeing this from God’s perspective. When we, too, join in with complaining and lust for this life – aren’t we reacting the same way unbelievers do?
Unfortunately, believers are quite often just as guilty of allowing negativity and grumbling to dominate their lives as those who do not know God. Do you remember in the book of Exodus, after the Israelites had watched God part the Red Sea and destroy their enemies with a crash of a wave? (Exodus 14) Only two short weeks later, they were complaining to Moses and his brother:
"The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” - Exodus 16:3
What Can We Learn about Positivity from Jesus?
As parents, we often let our children endure discipline and difficult decisions we must make, knowing it is best for them in the long run. They may not see it at the time – but usually do once they become parents. “My mom was so right!” We let them struggle to learn something as simple as tying their shoes because it will eventually be for their benefit.
Isn’t that how God is with us?
I truly believe that since the fall, this life has not been easy. God did not promise us a life on Easy-peasy Street. We have been destined for trials—for struggles. But we need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
To be honest, sometimes I truly wonder how Jesus did it. Knowing what was coming – what he was here for – why in the world didn’t he simply throw up his hands and give up? Where was the negativity that people like us display every day? His life was one of constant conflict with the Pharisees and “teachers of the law” – knowing they were out to kill him. He could have remained in hiding – staying in Nazareth to avoid the trouble. Instead, he remained positive – teaching, healing, and raising people after they died. Yes, the state of the world did sometimes hurt him, but he knew what the future held.
Jesus did, in fact, warn us about what awaits us in this world:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33
And there it is—“Take heart! I have overcome the world.” Our continued connection to our Lord is truly the secret to overcoming the negativity of this life. Remaining in him can and will deliver us from the callous cares of the world.
How do we stay connected with someone we love in this life? Through spending time with them, of course. It’s no different for us with Christ.
How Can We Stay Connected to Each Other?
Prayer was essential to Jesus’s time here on earth – connecting him to his Father. Jesus prayed regularly – often withdrawing to lonely places to pray. (Luke 5:16) He prayed at the most important times of his life – before choosing his twelve disciples, he spent the night on a mountainside praying to God (Luke 6:12). Jesus prayed when he was baptized by John (Luke 3:21-22). He prayed before feeding the 5000 (Luke 9:16) and the 4000 (Matthew 15:36). Jesus prayed at his transfiguration (Luke 9:29), and he prayed when he called Lazarus out of the tomb (John 11:38-44). And, of course, in the garden of Gethsemane, just before he was arrested and crucified, Jesus prayed, “Father, please take this cup from me…but above all, let your will be done.” (paraphrase, Matthew 26:39-44) But, as it seems to be for us so often – God’s answer was “no.”
If the Son of God found it necessary to stay connected to the Father through prayer, how much more should we do that? Prayer isn’t just about going to him when we need something – but regularly. All the time. When we need something, yes – but when we just want to spend time with him. Or get something off our chest. Or just thank him for our blessings. Or maybe…just listen.
This is how we learn to trust, and trust will help keep us positive. We will learn who we are. We will learn that we can count on his promises—even if sometimes things don’t go quite as we ask or pray. Even if the answer is no. We will learn that His Spirit will guide us in the way we should go. In those quiet moments, we learn that what we see and feel here is temporary and that we can trust in what we don’t see.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2
Think of it this way – Peter didn’t sink until he took his focus off Jesus and instead looked at the storm raging around him. (Matthew 14:22-31)
Matthew tells of the story we know so well, when Jesus walked on the water toward the disciples. They feared it was a ghost until Jesus told them to “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then Peter, perhaps not believing, told Jesus, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” at this point, Jesus simply said, “Come.” Peter stepped out – walked on the water toward Jesus, and then began to sink when he looked at the wind and the waves. Crying out as he began to sink, “Lord, save me!” Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter, then said: Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (v. 31)
Why did he doubt, indeed?
What Does Prayer Have to Do with Positivity?
We need look no further for a positive attitude than Paul. My goodness:
"I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked." - 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27
And this description didn’t even include the shipwreck in Acts 27. Yet, with all of this, Paul teaches us about anxiety. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul reassures them:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7
In every situation. And in all circumstances.
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
Not for all circumstances but rather in all circumstances. God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.
Are we beginning to recognize a pattern here?
James tells us that every good and perfect gift is from God above (James 1:17). If we truly desire to change our attitude and a more positive outlook, we need much more than the “Power of Positive Thinking.” True change will start and end with our relationship with Christ Jesus. His Holy Spirit holds the key to changing one’s life – not our thoughts or our own efforts. He begins the process as we yield to the Spirit, and we are transformed. Rather than psychobabble, or any kind of self-help, self-generated power – we must rely on that which God has already given us. His Holy Spirit.
Let me ask you this: if you knew, I mean really knew, that Jesus was living right by your side – walking with you at all times, every minute – how positive would your attitude be then? Wouldn’t you know that you’d be safe in all things, and he would let nothing befall you that wasn’t his will? Or – would you take your eyes off Jesus, as Peter did? The thing is – Jesus is with us. His Spirit lives within us.
Through that Spirit, we can have confidence in all things, maintain a positive outlook on all things, and know he is with us—knowing “we have the mind of Christ.”
"The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for 'Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
Photo Credit: Image created using DALL.E 2024 AI technology and subsequently edited and reviewed by our editorial team.
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.
