As we face a New Year, a fresh decade and an uncertain future, we can do so with faith and justified optimism, especially when we have the promise of God’s love, help and continual presence.
“This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
It was this assurance of God’s present help that gave Joshua the faith, with optimism to engage in the many battles he had to fight to take possession of the Promised Land.
An optimist is not a person who expects everything to always go smoothly nor that everything will always work perfectly for them.
“Thomas Edison looked at his flops as successes in eliminating unworkable solutions. After creating the light-blub, he famously said I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that don’t work” (Petersen).
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Helen Keller.
“The flying bumble bee never attended a course on aerodynamics, so he was never convinced that he did not have the right equipment to fly.”
Optimism makes way for faith to operate, and “without faith it is not possible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6.
This chapter goes on to describe the men and women off faith, and how they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, shut the mounts of lions, whose weakness was turned to strength and how they became powerful in battle.
The Prophet Jeremiah faced many severe hardships and painful challenges was also able to write optimistically of his future and that of his people: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
The Apostle Paul went through many devastating hardships such as: “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I have been hungry and thirsty and often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-26.
Yet he was able to say: “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:13.
Let us look forward to the year ahead with the confidence that God will be true to His word, and never leave us nor forsake us.
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