Should Christians Always Be Optimists?

Kelly-Jayne McGlynn CrosswalkHeadlines Contributor
Published Oct 13, 2023

This was a text I received from my best friend recently. We’ve been talking for weeks about God’s abundance versus scarcity because we’re both so naturally inclined to think about what we don’t have versus what we do. But clearly, the Spirit has been working!

text message kelly-jayne mcglynn article

Photo Credit: Kelly-Jayne McGlynn

Recently, I wrote an article about how we can give greater weight, AKA kavod, to God by viewing the good in our lives as more important than the “bad.” And it got me thinking: is that the same thing as optimism? Does God command us to be optimistic? And is that the same thing as faith?

I sure do not view myself as an optimist. To be honest, when I think of optimists, I think of people who are out of touch with reality, slightly obnoxious, and frustrating. I picture people carrying around big balloons with smiley faces on them, handing them out to people while their street is on fire, with a big dopey grin on their faces.

I want to gesture wildly at everything around me and say, “How can you be so obnoxiously positive? Don’t you see what is going on in this world?!”

But then I think…God does see everything that is going on in this world. And he is still joyful. He is still at peace. Still with us as we celebrate our birthdays and newborns and falling in love. He still hopes for our future and sees the best in all of us.

So maybe you’re like me and consider yourself more of a realist. Or maybe looking at the good has always been easy for you. Either way, let’s see if being optimistic is something we should all be striving for as Christians.

What Is Optimism? Is it the Same as Toxic Positivity?

Optimism is defined as “a person who is inclined to be hopeful and to expect good outcomes.” However, toxic positivity is defined as “Toxic positivity is the act of avoiding, suppressing, or rejecting negative emotions or experiences.”

One can be optimistic while still acknowledging their negative emotions. Using the cliche “glass half full” analogy, an optimist can still validate and grieve the fact that their glass is not completely full while being incredibly grateful for what they do have in their glass. And they can expect good things for their glass in the future.

On the other hand, pessimism is defined as “an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome.” Pessimists complain about how their glass is half empty and let this negative emotion stew until they forget their glass has anything in it at all.

You might think to yourself, “Okay, I’m not some negative Nellie like those pessimists are. But I’m not an airhead either. I just see life the way that it is. I’m a realist”--i.e., someone who “recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation: one who accepts and deals with things as they really are.”

Being a realist feels like the safe middle ground between an optimist and a pessimist. You feel like you are logical and even-keeled, basing your outlook on life based on real experiences and facts.

I liked to think of myself this way, too. But then I look at the definition of faith and realize that maybe my realist attitude is not as biblical as I think it is.

Is Optimism the Same Thing as Faith?

Let me share one more definition, this time from the Bible. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

When you look at this definition next to optimism and next to realism, which one do you think faith leans more towards? While realists look at the “facts” of their lives and what is going on around them, faith looks towards God. Faith has hope. Faith believes that good things will happen based on God’s favor and action.

I think that sounds a lot more like optimism than it does realism. I think the key difference between optimism and faith is that optimists may base their positive outlook on a number of things: their own life experience, what they want to see happen, or just based on the sheer will of the mind. But faith is much more solid.

Faith does not waver based on life circumstances or personality changes. Faith is based on who God is. Faith is choosing to see the good and believe in the good for the future, because we know an incredible, sovereign, loving God who is in control of all things.

Instead of choosing to base your outlook on what you see in front of you, faith chooses to base your outlook on God’s character.

Scriptures That Support Optimism

Now that we see that the definition of optimism is similar to the definition of faith, can we find an optimistic mindset supported in the Bible? I believe absolutely yes!

Psalm 5:3: “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Habakkuk 3:17-18: “Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”

What Your Realism Could Really Be About

I completely understand the hesitancy to become more positive and hopeful about your life. I believe you if you have gone through really difficult things that make you say, “I’m simply being practical when I don’t hope for a good outcome or good future. It’s just not statistically probable.”

I also believe you if you are trying to be surrendered and humble, not wishing to control your life by hoping for good things to happen to you. You want to be surrendered about your new job, new relationship, new house. You don’t want to put your hope in worldly things, so you are trying to be realistic about what you hope for in your life.

I have been there. But I’ve realized that my realism is simply masked by disappointment. I’ve either already been too disappointed in one area of my life to hope that it will get any better, or I’m too afraid to believe that God really will bless me because I’m afraid of being disappointed again.

Hope is vulnerable. Optimism means that you could be let down. It’s so hard.

But when we really examine our lives, even our disappointments, it’s so obvious that God has been creating good for us all along. Even our lowest lows have shown us grace and mercy as God pulls us out of our pits and gifts us with lifelong lessons from our hardest times.

And maybe, just maybe, we can train our minds to look for the good in every situation rather than focusing on the bad.

I challenge you to hope for good things to come your way! Base your hope on God’s character, not on your life circumstances so far. If you open yourself up to optimism, I believe you will be surprised by how good life really can be with God.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.

Kelly-Jayne McGlynn is a former editor at Crosswalk.com. She sees the act of expression, whether through writing or art, as a way to co-create with God and experience him deeper. Check out her handmade earrings on Instagram and her website for more of her thoughts on connecting with God through creative endeavors.