Our belief that God is real and all-powerful inspires us to be optimistic, no matter what life brings our way. The Biblical story of Job is a reminder of how powerful optimism can be in our lives. We don’t always know why things are happening to us or what the results will be, but God does. Job lost his livestock, his children, and even his health. But despite these losses, Job did not curse God. Instead, he maintained his faith, saying, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21 NIV).
There are many excellent examples around us of how God can use some of the most difficult pieces of life to inspire us to grow and to follow his guidance. We all experience uncertainty, hardship, and confusion in our lives. It is in these moments of doubt that optimism becomes a powerful tool, helping us trust in God’s guidance, even when we don’t understand what’s happening. We must trust that God knows everything — from the beginning to the end.
The power of optimism shown in Job’s story can also be seen in the stories of people in our modern society. Thomas Edison and LeBron James are two more recent examples of people who took difficult circumstances and used them in powerful ways. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb, is known today because of his ability to take difficult failures and use them for good. He attempted to harness electricity into a lightbulb — and failed — more than 1,000 times before finally creating an invention that revolutionized our world.
LeBron James, whose mother gave birth to him when she was 16 years old, was brought into a difficult life. His father was never involved, and let him grow up in poverty. James could have allowed these challenging circumstances to hold him back. Instead, he chose to push through the difficulties and focus on the good. His optimism and indomitable spirit has allowed him to become one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. He has won four MVP awards and four NBA championships. He chose to remain optimistic, focusing on his dreams and working tirelessly to achieve them. His story is a testament to the power of optimism and hard work in the face of adversity.
Many of us have examples like these that are even closer to home — people we know who have had a direct impact on us. My own father’s journey from a small town in the Dominican Republic to the United States is a story of resilience and hope. He chose to be baptized at nine years old, and was thrown out by his family for choosing to follow Christ. But my father remained steadfast in his faith. He was alone at a young age, but he trusted that God had a purpose for him. He eventually made his way to the United States and trusted God to guide him in his life. Today, he is a powerful testimony of God’s guidance and protection, even when we cannot see where we are being led.
In our darkest moments, God is still at work weaving together a plan that is for our good. As we navigate the challenges of life, we must hold on to our optimism and faith. We must trust that God’s hand is guiding us, even when we can’t see the way forward. Like Job, Thomas Edison, LeBron James, and my father, we can be confident that our perseverance and trust in God will lead us to a place of greater blessing and understanding.
Job concludes his story by promising to trust God no matter what happens. He doesn’t regret trusting God, and he doesn’t question God — even though some of the events in his story have no clear answer. In Job 19:25-26, he states, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.”
Josias Batiste, Soquel Young Speaker 2024
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