The Truth About Christian Positivity: Hope That Faces Reality

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The Truth About Christian Positivity: Hope That Faces Reality

Greetings, Refresh Readers,

Many people think Christians are naïve optimists—modern-day Pollyannas wearing rose-colored glasses and ignoring life’s hardships. But biblical joy isn’t denial; it’s defiance. The apostle Paul, writing from prison, modeled a gratitude that acknowledged suffering yet trusted God’s goodness in the midst of it. His example shows that choosing joy isn’t pretending everything is fine—it’s believing God is still at work even when life feels anything but. We’ll explore this topic in today’s post.

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The Truth about Christian Positivity: Hope that Faces Reality

Sometimes people call me a Pollyanna.

The name comes from the 1913 novel Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter describing a girl who plays the “glad game”—trying to find something to be glad about in every situation.

Generally viewed negatively, Pollyanna people are those who are not only positive, but are so positive they deny reality. They might tell someone with terminal cancer that everything’s going to be OK without acknowledging the very real danger of their disease.

Our society often perceives Christians as Pollyannas. Those who believe this think our hope in the sweet by and by negates the realities of the nasty now and now. They think we slap on our rose-colored glasses and skip through fields of daisies, blissfully ignoring the hand grenades exploding around us.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything, Christians are more aware of evil and suffering. We recognize that sin has dragged its poisonous tentacles across everything beautiful and pure with one objective—to destroy it. Christians are also more aware of what God has done and is doing to conquer the power of sin and put an end to its reign of death and destruction.

Some call me Pollyanna because I’m committed to practicing gratitude instead of grumbling. I’m in good company then, because the apostle Paul shared a similar commitment. (Maybe his colleagues called him PAULyanna.)

Listen to his words of encouragement:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

He wrote these lines from prison. Chained between two guards. Surely the only way he could write such happy words in light of his circumstances was to have lost his grip on reality, right?

There’s one problem, though—the text doesn’t support this. Instead of sunshine and roses, Paul’s words to the Philippians are awash with the gory details of his life:

He had no hope of rescue and expected to die for his faith.

“. . . I am being poured out like a drink offering.”

He was shackled between two guards 24 hours a day.

“. . . I am in chains for Christ” (Philippians 1:13).

He lacked food, clothing, and essentials.

“. . . not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only” (4:15).

Yet He Chose Gratitude Instead of Grumbling. Listen to His Words:

About His Impending Martyrdom:

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you” (2:17).

About His Imprisonment:

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” (1:12-14).

About His Deprivation:

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. . .” (4:11).

Paul didn’t maintain this optimistic outlook because he denied the reality of his circumstances, but because he believed God was at work, for good, in his circumstances. With this theology firmly in place, he channeled his thoughts toward gratitude, not grumbling.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things, he wrote in his letter to the Philippians (4:8).

This discipline, combined with prayer, helps us triumph over life’s most difficult circumstances. It enables us to echo Paul’s words from his prison cell:

“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (4:13).

What are the difficult circumstances of your life right now? How might things change if you apply the principles of Philippians 4:8? Why not try it and see? A dear friend once told me, “I don’t think practicing gratitude would have changed my circumstances, but it sure could have changed how I handled them.”

Can you think of a time when you chose to “think on these things”? How did it affect your outlook and your circumstances?

If you need a guide to help you think on the good and lovely things mentioned in Philippians 4:8, I’ve love for you to grab a copy of my book, Think on These Things, 60 Devotions for Renewed Peace.

Lori’s Devotional, an Amazon #1 New Release!

Have you ordered your copy of Lori’s newest devotional, Think on These Things: 60 Thoughtful Devotions for Renewed Peace? An Amazon #1 Hot New Release, this story-driven devotional will help you fight negativity and think on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy. You’ll experience joy and peace every day.

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