Optimism is better… but not best

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Renewed hope”

Our Bible verse for today: “For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:10 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Optimism is better … but not best”

I consider myself to be an optimistic person. The glass isn’t half empty it’s still half full. An optimistic outlook is better for us than a pessimistic outlook. It has rightly been said that one of the worst emotional maladies that we can experience is pessimism. Pessimists expect the worst to happen and often attract it to themselves. The worst of pessimists even invent threats and problems in their minds then convince themselves that they are real and likely to happen.

Optimism is better … but it is not best. There’s something better than optimism and that is hope. Optimism is a general belief that things will turn out well. Hope is more than that. Hope, properly understood and rightly applied, adds an element of action to optimism that helps to move the situation in the direction of the desired good outcome.

The Apostle Paul was an optimistic person. He knew that the will and ways of God were always right and best and that in the end, God and His people win. But Paul didn’t rest on the general belief that there would eventually be a good outcome. As we read in 1 Timothy 4:10 (above), Paul added action to his optimism and that led him to hope. “For this reason we labor and stive, because we have put our hope in the living God …” He was more than just optimistic about good outcomes he was hopeful, and he acted on that hope. His hope was also more than just wishful thinking. He knew from experience that the outcome he hoped for was a realistic expectation if he actually did something about it.

In his book “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier” Arthur Brookes urges us to move beyond optimism to hope by adding action steps that lead to the desired outcome. In Paul’s case, he knew that as a Christian He was in an active partnership with Jesus and that in every situation each of them had a role to play. Jesus would do His part but Paul had a responsibility to do his part as well. Paul couldn’t just sit on his rearend and wait for Jesus to magically accomplish everything for him. With Jesus doing His part and Paul doing his, he had good reason to be hopeful of a good outcome.

Optimism and hope are similar but not the same. Optimism is good but hope is better. In life you will discover that when you put action to your optimism your hope will be renewed.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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