Philippians 4:11-13, 2 Corinthians

Glyn Barrett reflects on what life is like when lived with optimism

Glyn Barrett

If you are a pessimist then you look for the negative and expect to be disappointed. If you're an optimist then you look for the good in every situation whether it its going great, or the complete opposite.

However the everyday can throw some curve balls at you making it harder to be content with your lot, so how do you become an optimist?

We need faith, hope and to believe.

Being an optimist is similar to being a Christian, as we have faith in God; a hope in how we were saved by Jesus' death and resurrection and believe that we are now set free.

The philosopher Albert Camus said, "In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer".

That summer can be God's optimism impacting your everyday even at the hardest moments.

In the Bible there are so many examples of God encounters that have changed outlooks on different situations:

Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength".

This means that to be content we need to trust in God and even in our worst winters we can have invincible summers.

Even in our worst moments we can be at our very best.

From knowing this we can have confidence at work, school and with family and friends, that God is on our side.

Just remember that we can do all things through Christ. 'All things' doesn't actually mean 'all things', but everything that God has instructed us to do - each of us have been called and set apart for something. This then encourages us to step out further.

However, if you do things for God, they have to be done through him and by his ways because his ways are far higher than our own.

This week if you're looking for God's strength then read the Bible for a timely word for your circumstance; 2 Corinthians would be a good place to start.

Look for any positive in every situation and think and pray about what God's will is for your life.