Title: Choosing Optimism/ Topic: Happiness

Today’s Reading: Genesis 44; Genesis 45; Genesis 46; Luke 18

Scripture: Genesis 45:5-8
5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. [a]
8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Observation: These words of Joseph reveal him to be an optimist and a generally happy person. He had been hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, been lied about with his character maligned as a result, wrongly imprisoned, yet he puts all these things in perspective by adopting the attitude that God meant it for good. He could have remained mad at God for all his unjust suffering. What would his life have been like if he had? Would he have been lifted to such a high position in the government? I think not. He made the important choice to trust that God is good and would work all his circumstances (even the difficult ones that he couldn't understand the purpose of) out to eventually bless him in his life.

Application: If we are to have the joy of the Lord in our lives, we must also choose this optimistic view of even the tragedies that happen to us. God is a Redeemer. He can redeem circumstances that the enemy would like to ruin us with into events that make us stronger, kinder, more gracious and even happier people. I have known many Christians who live in regret, unforgiveness, or resentment because of hardships in their lives. They seem to feel God is picking on them. This is wholly unproductive and limits the miracles we will see and the amount of happiness we will have in our lives. Choosing an optimistic view of our circumstances is choosing faith.

Prayer: Father, help me to take every thought captive and make it obedient to the truth of Christ. I want to release your full blessing in my life by having the view that you will work all things together for my good.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.