Tag: darkness

optimism isn’t faith.

optimism isn’t faith.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 2 Comments

“To choose to be optimistic or pessimistic is to set up a confirmation bias of your own mind to view the world the way you want it.”

-AzaRaskin

I am optimistic by nature. It’s natural for me to have hope and believe for the best.

My favorite chapter in the Bible has always been Hebrews 11, known as the faith chapter. I was inspired by these men and women of faith who believed. They resonated with my optimism and active lifestyle.

After the Jesus Movement of the 60’s, evangelical, charasmatic, and/or non-denominational churches sprung up everywhere. People wanted more of their church experience. Not to be entertained, but to know God in deeper and richer ways, understanding throughout the scripture that God wanted this, too.

Many of these churches emphasized faith and/or word-of-faith.

But faith can really be optimism and not faith at all.

Hebrews 11 lists the exploits of men and women who had faith. They were “history makers” and “moved mountains”… all the things you hear in many churches today. I think this resonates with our Western minds. Compared to other cultures, we excel at burning the candle at both ends.

But then, the end of Hebrews 11 says this:

“They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.”

What? Why? Look at all they did for God. If this happened to them, could it happen to me? But what about all the promises found in the scripture of God’s protection, etc., etc.? What about the full armor of God? What about asking anything in Jesus’ Name?

Can our faith really be optimism viewing the world the way we want it?

When our world has been shattered, when it didn’t turn out the way we had prayed for, there is no optimism. Only pain and sorrow. But in the abyss, we can find real faith.

It’s not easy for Christians with the sword of the spirit in one hand and the shield of faith in the other hand to hear hard truths.

Faith isn’t based only on good outcomes. There is real suffering that goes on in the world and not everyone who prays in Jesus’ Name receives what they want or need.

If we say one day in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere, then perhaps one day in the abyss with God is better than anywhere else. Emmanuel, God with us, who promises never to leave us or forget us.

The abyss only reveals Him in the way you’ve wanted to know Him all along. The shadow that hid His face from you for so long is gone. You would never have seen Him completely had you not entered the abyss.

God sees the shattered pieces all around you and promises He will take care of that. If not here, the promise of eternity when He will wipe away every tear.

Amazing how the darkness can show us the true way.

light.

light.

by Kathleen Moulton

It is not a “religious” thing to live your life with the Bible as your guide.

Some of us read the manual when we get a new appliance or device. Some of us glance over the instructions. Some of us read it when we can’t get something working. And some of us throw the manual out without reading it at all.

No matter what kind of person you are, the manual will always help. It’s meant to help.

It’s common for people to compartmentalize life and put everything to do with the Bible on Sunday mornings and special holidays.

God wants us to live daily with his word to guide us in how we think, act, and believe. Why? Because he wants to help us, not hurt us.

‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

Have you ever had the electricity go out in the middle of a moonless night? Pitch black.

If we’re prepared for such emergencies, we feel our way in the darkness to get our flashlight.

People often turn to God during times of darkness, remembering a scripture, a prayer, and hanging on for dear life.

But we don’t just need the light at night. We need light during the day, too.

The light helps us – what we see, where we go, and how we get there.

The scripture is meant for day and night. Everyday.

We can’t throw out the Bible because we have questions or because we don’t understand some things. Do you know how the world was made? Even if you believe in the Big Bang Theory, the elements had to come from somewhere.

There is enough in the Bible that we do understand.

The problem is us.

We can accept or reject. God gives us that choice. And if we’re honest, we do avoid what we don’t want to hear. But if we will hear it, he will do the rest. Lots of times we wait until we feel it. God wants us to choose it, then he will help us to feel it.

You can either stumble through the dark room because you don’t know where the flashlight is, the batteries are dead, or you don’t have one.

Or you can think you see something frightening in the darkness – until you put the light on and realize it was just your imagination.

The Bible clears a lot of things up, guiding us through life, showing us how God wants us to think about things.

We live in a world where bad things happen. Really bad things.

But there is also enough good things which cause us to pause and remember the world also reflects a loving God we can learn to trust.

Whether the light at night or the light at day, we need it to see.

We need God’s word to light our lives.

                                       grace and peace

beauty.

beauty.

by Kathleen Moulton

Sometimes, we aren’t prepared.

Sometimes, we aren’t expecting.

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But beauty will always come through.

And the light is always greater than the darkness.