Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days. (Hosea 3:5 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Be an Optimist
Is the glass half full? Or half empty? It feels like cautious wisdom to declare it half empty. Lately, we seem to cling to pessimism and call it wisdom.
But really, it is just fear. Pessimism is not realism, it is fear. Pessimism does not come from experience, but from fear. Pessimism is not low expectations to avoid disappointment, it is fear. Pessimism is not a good understanding of current events and trends, it is fear. Pessimism is not merely our personality, our choice, or our nature. It is fear.
God Himself gives an optimistic view of His people’s future in the book of Hosea.
Astonishingly, to our pessimistic ears, God says that things are going to turn out fine. Great, even. Grand, even. Good, even.
He does not promise that we will have a good day tomorrow. But He promises that we, if we are His people, will know our King, David’s heir, Jesus, and gladly cling to Him. He promises that we will be in a perfect relationship with God. He promises that we will know His goodness.
Optimism IS realism.
Fear not, then be an optimist.