What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us ~ AW Tozer
The pessimist believes God is against them. He’s punishing us. The world is unraveling. Tomorrow will look no better than today. Since everything is destined to fall apart, why even try?
The optimist looks at failure and insists, “God is using this to teach me.” They search for silver linings, hoping to turn setbacks into springboards. There’s some wisdom in that, but it often leaves God out of the story. Instead of God’s plan, life is about what happens to me, leading to the mantra: “Anything is possible if I just try harder.” Scripture offers a better way. In Philippians 4, Paul provides a solution that transcends both extremes.
The faithful see God differently. They trust His plan and His methods. It’s not about winning or losing, it is about God Himself. Learning to distinguish between what they want and what God wants, leads to living for His glory. Paul said it plainly: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). His confidence wasn’t in outcomes, it was in God alone. How about you?
If you find yourself asking “Can God?”, or “Will God?” You may be stuck in either pessimism or optimism. Shifting to faith requires a different response to life’s circumstances. Simply consider, “He is. He always was. and always will be enough.”