God Overpowers Our Pessimism

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/30/22

Yesterday we read that the first step in overcoming pessimism is understanding who you are in Christ Jesus.

The second step in overcoming pessimism is knowing how to handle setbacks—those moments when we lose our confidence. We all have hot buttons and weaknesses that cause us to doubt and falter in faith. Thomas had those buttons, too.

We learn about one of his buttons in John 11. He was afraid of the growing opposition from the Jews. When Jesus told the disciples that they were going to Bethany because Lazarus had died, Thomas was sure they would die too (see v. 16). But then Jesus overwhelmed Thomas’ pessimism with His matchless power—power even over death—by raising Lazarus from the grave.

Our hope also lies in witnessing and receiving Jesus’ life-giving power. How can we be pessimistic when Jesus has the power to redeem any situation?

The final step in overcoming pessimism is believing in the resurrected Christ. Following Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples were confused about what would happen next, and they gathered together for support—everyone but Thomas.

He expected nothing to happen, and when he was told by the other disciples that the resurrected Christ had appeared to them, he still refused to believe, saying, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

When Jesus appeared again to them a week later, Thomas was given the chance to do just that, and when he had experienced the resurrected Christ, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). His ultimate liberation from pessimism had come. Likewise, we must remember that in every situation, Jesus is at work—sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Our God is alive and coming soon!

Prayer: God, thank You for the reminder that You have the power to redeem any situation and that I can have confidence in the power of my Lord, the resurrected Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” (Psalm 66:5)