Living as a Grace-Focused Optimist is as crucial to living for God as oxygen is to your lungs. When you’re optimistic that God’s always up to your good you’re like a spiritual Navy Seal who’s fully prepared for whatever you face. In dependence on him, Grace-Focused Optimists glorify and enjoy God.
The Grace SWAT Team
Living as a Grace-Focused Optimist isn’t easy. In fact, sometimes pessimism makes a hostage out of even the most optimistic Grace-Focused Optimist. Something you don’t want to happen happens—or something you do want to happen doesn’t happen—and suddenly an Uzi-wielding, mask-wearing pessimism terrorist blindfolds your Grace-Focused Optimism, ties its hands behind its back, and threatens to kill it.
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How do you rescue your Grace-Focused Optimism when pessimism takes it hostage? By sending in the GRACE SWAT team of preaching to yourself the truths that give you reason to be optimistic no matter what’s happening to you.
I send in the following ten-membered team when my Grace-Focused Optimism needs rescuing from a hostage situation.
1. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that I’m a Christian. I remind myself that I say to Jesus with Peter, “You’re the Christ, the Son of the living God” and with Thomas, “My Lord and my God.” Then I remind myself that I didn’t make myself a Christian. God’s made me one. And the fact that he’s made me a Christian is his way of assuring me that he is committed to my good. It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when I’m focusing on the fact I’m a Christian.
2. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that God is my Father. ‘Father’ is the Christian name for God. Having him for my Father means having the wisest, most important, significant, powerful, and influential Being in existence taking full responsibility for me. It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when I’m focusing on the fact that the true and living God, I AM, is my Father.
3. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that God loves me the way He loves Jesus. Jesus assures me of this in the Valentine verse of 17:23. And it’s this love that governs all of His dealings with me. God’s answer to all of my “Whys?” is: “Because I love you!” It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when I’m focusing on the fact that God loves me as much as he loves Jesus and his love controls everything I face.
4. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that God has forgiven all my sins. He’s had Jesus pay my debt in full. I’m no longer on death row. Hell can no more hurt me than the fire was able to hurt Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when I’m focusing on the fact that the worst thing that could ever happen to me never will because I’m forgiven.
5. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that God accepts me through Jesus. Because of Jesus, I remain acceptable to Him even though I still do unacceptable things. And when I do something unacceptable my Father will forgive me the moment I confess it. It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when I’m focusing on the fact that because of Jesus God continues accepting me even though I still do unacceptable things.
6. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that God answers my prayers. James tells me that my prayers are powerful in their effect. I have access with boldness into the presence of the Person Who is able to do exceeding abundantly more than anyone can ask or think. He listens to me as carefully as I listen to my children when they’re telling me about some need they have or some problem they face. When I pray God works. It’s impossible to anything other than optimistic about God when I’m focusing on the fact that God answers my prayers.
7. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that all God’s promises are mine. Peter tells me that every promise God makes is a check made out to me. I’m free to claim them by endorsing them with the pen of faith and cashing them in the bank of heaven. So, for example, God’s promise to cleanse, God’s promise to give wisdom, and God’s promise to guide—along with every other promise he makes—are all mine. It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when you can claim God’s promises and enjoy what they offer anytime you want.
8. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that God’s providence governs my life. Everything that comes into my life comes from Him and for my good. It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when I can say to the very thing that’s making me pessimistic exactly what Joseph said to his brothers: God means this for my good.
9. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that I don’t need to be afraid of dying. The moment I die Jesus will say to me what he said to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” I can say with Paul “to die is gain.” It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when I know that I don’t need to be afraid of dying.
10. When my GFO is taken hostage by pessimism I preach to myself that I’m going to have a fairytale ending that’s no fairy tale. I’m going to be made perfectly and permanently happy by being made perfectly and permanently like Jesus. I’m going to live on the New Earth with all of its wonders and privileges and splendors. It’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when I think that what’s troubling me now will be soon gone and I will be enjoying New Earth treasures and pleasures forever.
Is your GFO held hostage this morning by pessimism? Send in the Grace SWAT team. Preach these Grace truths to yourself and you’ll see: it’s impossible to be anything other than optimistic about God when you’re focusing on the fact that he’s always up to your good.
