Tag Archives: optimism vs delusion

Positive Thinking Versus Faith

At first I thought it was funny…a cartoon of a turtle on his back. In such a predicament he imagines he is flying instead of stuck on his back. But does he “look to the bright side” or is he simply delusional?

Positive thinking changes your perspective of a situation. It can even give you a euphoric feeling in face of a dilemma. But it doesn’t change reality. For all its benefits, positive thinking looks for an outcome that is suitable to MY desires, MY way. It greatly disappoints when things go contrary to our will.

Faith on the other hand sees a spiritual reality that is unseeable to the eye. It trusts that God’s plan will be best for us, and fully satisfactory, even if I don’t get “my own way.” I so admire the testimony of Evan and Jill, who know this to be true in the face of trials far greater than mine. Jill shared this illustration from D.L. Moody:

“You know, when a man is going up in a balloon, he takes in sand as a ballast, and when he wants to mount a little higher, he throws out a little of the ballast, and then he will mount a little higher; he throws out a little more ballast, and he mounts still higher; and the higher he gets the more he throws out- and so the nearer we get to God the more we have to throw out of the things of this world. Let go of them; do not let us first set our hearts and affections on them, but do what the Master tells us – lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.”

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.” Helen H. Lemmel

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20