Optimism and reality
Western culture has an aura of optimism. And Western Christianity has it too. I struggle with this when things go wrong in life.
Well meaning people may say: “God’s in control. It’ll all work out.” or “Don’t worry, God will provide.”
Those promises are true, but the optimism of Western culture has imbued a meaning to them which may not be what was intended. Which therefore, when reality is found to work out differently, can lead to a real crisis of faith.
Christians have suffered starvation during famines in Africa. God did not provide food for them. Genocide in Kosovo meant that it didn’t all work out for many Christians there.
Why then do we in North America optimistically tell each other it’s going to be okay?
Many people are finding out it’s not okay and it may never be okay. So what might the promises truly mean? What is really solid at the centre?
Not having a good job or even any job, or enough food or a roof over our heads. Not having health and care when we are ill. Not having things get better instead of getting worse.
Maybe good happen to some, but that doesn’t mean they happen because God kept his promise specifically to them.
What we can count on: God’s love and that he will never abandon us. Evidences of beauty and life in even darkness and pain. His presence will give us strength. Everything will be made right, but only fully on the other side of eternity. God is still in control of the big picture.
Everything that we find good beyond these are truly blessings – to be cherished and enjoyed and celebrated. But let us be careful not to add to the promises of God more than what is really there.
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Am I way off? Speaking out of my own pain that which I know not? Help me to understand. Tell me your story.
Comments(3)
I 100% agree! And I also think that this optimism is part of what has gone ‘wrong’ in our faith life lately.
I agree, too.
I have a hard time explaining (and even recognizing) that my belief that God’s goodness is always good, just not always the good I might have chosen.
Perhaps a good reminder is the oft-quoted Jer 29 passage about how God has good plans for us. What most people forget is that those good plans originally given to Israel included 70 years of exile under non to nice oppressors. That’s not exactly the good plans most of us would imagine! (so perhaps I should be careful about who I pray/wish God’s good plans for?)
Which also reminds me of Psalm 37 about God giving us the desires of our heart. Maybe that means more that he’ll change our desires rather than reading it as he’ll give us what we want.