By: H.H. Pope Shenouda III
Optimism comes from faith and hope: faith in God being the beneficent, and hope for what He is going to do. Right after the flood of water, there was the Ark. God promised that He shall never destroy the earth by flood again (Gn 8). After the events of the Crucifixion, there was the joy of the Resurrection. As God said to His disciples: "but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no man will take from you." (Jn 16:22) So, your sorrow shall be turned into joy. Yes indeed, God can turn all sorrow into joy.We know that with the dark night, no matter how dark it becomes, the bright dawn will come. The proverb says that dawn comes after the darkest hours of the night. A person who lives in the joy of hope never gets tired, he feels that the cold of winter will thereafter have the warmth of spring afterwards. History gives us many examples of hope. When man committed sin, he was driven out of heaven, but a promise from God for salvation was always there; it did not stop at the stage of driving man out. After that came the promise of Paradise, then for the Heavenly Kingdom, which was a promise to a better life. Likewise, death is a stage that a human being doesn't stop at, as after death, there will be the Resurrection, and then the eternal glories with the spiritual body, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Cor. 2:9)
So, let us look carefully at the positive points in all oursurroundings. Look at the story of Creation and how it commenced. "Theearth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of thedeep." (Gn 1:2) The hint of hope was concealed in the next sentences:"And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters . ThenGod said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. And God saw thelight, that it was good.” (Gn 1:3,4) If man has faith inside his heart,he shall see prosperity in everything. Man will then not see thecurrent darkness, but he will look to the light that will come. Inother words, optimism is not seeing what is happening now, but what Godhas prepared for us for later on.
Concerning this issue, let us meditate upon the lives of some of God'ssaints. Observe the life of Job the righteous in his trials, and seethe results. In his tribulations, Job had lost everything, all hissons, his house, his belongings. He lost his health, lost his dignityamong his friends and even in front of his servants! Though God, amongall this, was preparing for his salvation, and compensated him withtwice as much as he had before, the Lord blessed the latter end ofJob's life more than his beginning. (Job 42:1-17) “After this, Joblived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children andgrandchildren for four generations.”
The same almost goes for Joseph the righteous, the son of Jacob. He hadso many discomforts in his life: his brothers' envy to him, to thepoint they sold him as a slave. And in spite of his faithfulness inPotiphar's house, he was unfairly accused of dishonesty and was throwninto jail where he stayed for a while. But hope was always in front ofhim; let's see what God did with him. Joseph became the second in thekingdom, "a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a rulerthroughout all the land of Egypt." (Gn 45:8) His brothers came to himand kneeled between his arms, he saw his father Jacob and his brotherBenjamin, his sons were blessed by his father and he lived for ahundred and ten years.
I used to say: Remember three phrases during every trouble you face:"God is present" (Rabena mawgoud), "Everything is for the best" (kololelkheir), and "It will come to an end" (mesirha tantahi). There is notany difficulty that lasts forever, however long it might stay. It willcome to and end, the difficulty rises in a pyramid shape till itreaches its top, its pinnacle, then slides downward and ends. It willcome to an end, it will end in a good way. Yes indeed, everything goesfor the best because God is present.
By the optimistic view - meaning with hope - you know with certaintythat God will intervene. And when God intervenes - which He definitelywill do - all the problems will be solved, all the difficulties will goaway, and the situation will be fixed. Nehemiah the prophet wastroubled on hearing bad news; he cried, he fasted and prayed. The wallsof Jerusalem were broken down, and the gates were consumed with fire.But God intervened and gave him favor in the eyes of Artaxerxes theking of the Persians. Nehemiah traveled and built the walls ofJerusalem, thus returning peace and righteousness to its people.
So, whenever you see broken walls, say within your heart: "God willdefinitely send us another Nehemiah to rebuild it, and we shall neverbe disgraced anymore." And as God sent Nehemiah to rebuild the brokenwalls, He also sent David the little boy to save everyone from Goliathand his threats. People were scared, the army was frightened, as wasSaul the King. This was very distressing. Goliath was dangerously armedand was scary to behold, being of giant stature, yet the optimisticview never departed David's heart. David said, full of tranquility:"Let no man's heart fail because of him" (I Sam 17:32), and promised togo and fight him. And when he was going for the fight, hope neverdeparted him. Instead, David said, "This day the Lord will deliver youinto mine hand" "for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give youinto our hands." (I Sam 17:46,47). So, with each Goliath you meet inyour life, never let your heart fail because of him. On the contrary,with all hope, be sure that God will send you a David with his slingand stone to fight him for you, and save you.
Even if you are trapped between the Red Sea and the chariots ofPharaoh, remember St. Moses phrase "The Lord will fight for you, andyou shall hold your peace." (Ex 14:14). Don't you ever say "We'relost", don't give up, and never let faith, with all its optimistism,depart from you. Have strong faith. Be confident that the Lord iscapable of dividing the sea and making a road for you to go through it.And you will safely get out, as was written "the just shall live byfaith" (He 10:38). The view of fear and suspicion brings desperation -but optimism and faith is confidence that the Lord will do something,even if at the 24th hour.
And if we do not trust God's hand in incidents, we will definitelybecome discomforted. Let's remember God's saying, "Fear not; for I amwith you" and also David's saying to the Lord who is his Shepherd"though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fearno evil" (Ps 23). God was with David and saved him from all of Saul'sconspiracies against him, and saved him from fighting Absalom, from thecounsel of Ahithophel, and also from the troubles of the Joab son ofZeruiah. Jeremiah as well had encountered the same Divineencouragement; he was a boy, afraid of his mission, so God told him,"Do not be dismayed before their faces... For behold, I have made youthis day a fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls againstthe whole land... They will fight against you, But they shall notprevail against you. For I am with you”, says the Lord, “to deliveryou."” (Jr 1:17-19) Also, Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, was barren, andPeninnah her adversary provoked her and made her cry. With hope, Godgave Hannah a son, who is Samuel the Prophet.
Regarding hope and optimism, God says about women who don't bearchildren: "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth intosinging, and cry aloud… Enlarge the place of your tent, and let themstretch out the curtains of your dwellings… For you shall expand to theright and to the left. And your descendants will inherit the nations,and make the desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you will notbe ashamed.” (Is 54:1-4) With the same words of encouragement, He saysabout all those who are in trouble: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is uponMe, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to thepoor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty tothe captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound… Tocomfort all who mourn." (Is 61:1-2) The optimistic view is onsoling,and also is the feeling of hope in God's deeds. It's not what we see,but what God sees for us. And it's not what we do, but what God doesfor us.
That's how we should think, and we should also confidently wait, asDavid the Prophet says in the psalm, "Wait on the Lord; Be of goodcourage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!"(Ps 27:14). But if man fears and says "I'm lost", he speaks - but notout of faith or out of hope - and this doesn't benefit the heart atall. Who might have thought that Moses the child was sentenced to deathbefore he was even born (according to Pharaoh's order to the midwives),this same Moses becomes a great prophet and God's speaker, and manymiracles were been done by him! Who might have thought that MaryMagdalene, who had been healed of seven evil spirits (Lk 8:2) mightbecome a disciple for God, and a bringer of good news of Resurrectionto his disciples (Mk 16:9). It is the work of God in all of them; it isthat which we wait for with hope and optimism. Or who might havethought that Saul of Tarsus, who was aggressively persecuting thechurch, and who brought men and women to jail (Acts 1), might becomethe greatest Apostle in Christianity, as he "labored more abundantlythan they all" (I Cor 15:10). He was caught up into Paradise and heardinexpressible words (2 Co 12:4) It is God's deeds that are beyonddescription. Or who might have thought that Arianus the governor, whowas one of the most violent and cruel governors in the days of kingDiocletian, might allow God's works in his heart, believe inChristianity and become a martyr?
This "hope" was also known to the church through the repentance of manysinners. For example, the repentance of St. Ignatius, St. Moses theBlack, St. Mary the Coptic, St. Pilagya, St. Sarah... How desperatewere their lives, but there is definitely no desperation with the workof God who is able to raise up children to Abraham from stones. (Mt3:9) God's work can change hearts; can even rebuild those hearts, aspreviously promised: "Then will I sprinkle clean water on you, and youshall be clean… I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit withinyou… I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in Mystatutes, and you will keep my judgments and do them…" (Ez 36:25-27)God is able to bring forth sweetness out of the strong. He is able totransform the sinner into a saint.
We can see God's work in our daily lives, in Egypt and in the land ofImmigration, and also in the spreading of the church on all thecontinents of the world. God's work in the past gives us confidence andhope in what He will do in the future. God, who has worked with thepeople, and with the idolatry till He destroyed it, and who also brokethe sting of the atheism, is capable of work now and at all times. Remember, optimism is not what we see, but what God sees for us. Andit's not what we do, but what God does for us.
Concerning this issue, let us meditate upon the lives of some of God'ssaints. Observe the life of Job the righteous in his trials, and seethe results. In his tribulations, Job had lost everything, all hissons, his house, his belongings. He lost his health, lost his dignityamong his friends and even in front of his servants! Though God, amongall this, was preparing for his salvation, and compensated him withtwice as much as he had before, the Lord blessed the latter end ofJob's life more than his beginning. (Job 42:1-17) “After this, Joblived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children andgrandchildren for four generations.”
The same almost goes for Joseph the righteous, the son of Jacob. He hadso many discomforts in his life: his brothers' envy to him, to thepoint they sold him as a slave. And in spite of his faithfulness inPotiphar's house, he was unfairly accused of dishonesty and was throwninto jail where he stayed for a while. But hope was always in front ofhim; let's see what God did with him. Joseph became the second in thekingdom, "a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a rulerthroughout all the land of Egypt." (Gn 45:8) His brothers came to himand kneeled between his arms, he saw his father Jacob and his brotherBenjamin, his sons were blessed by his father and he lived for ahundred and ten years.
I used to say: Remember three phrases during every trouble you face:"God is present" (Rabena mawgoud), "Everything is for the best" (kololelkheir), and "It will come to an end" (mesirha tantahi). There is notany difficulty that lasts forever, however long it might stay. It willcome to and end, the difficulty rises in a pyramid shape till itreaches its top, its pinnacle, then slides downward and ends. It willcome to an end, it will end in a good way. Yes indeed, everything goesfor the best because God is present.
By the optimistic view - meaning with hope - you know with certaintythat God will intervene. And when God intervenes - which He definitelywill do - all the problems will be solved, all the difficulties will goaway, and the situation will be fixed. Nehemiah the prophet wastroubled on hearing bad news; he cried, he fasted and prayed. The wallsof Jerusalem were broken down, and the gates were consumed with fire.But God intervened and gave him favor in the eyes of Artaxerxes theking of the Persians. Nehemiah traveled and built the walls ofJerusalem, thus returning peace and righteousness to its people.
So, whenever you see broken walls, say within your heart: "God willdefinitely send us another Nehemiah to rebuild it, and we shall neverbe disgraced anymore." And as God sent Nehemiah to rebuild the brokenwalls, He also sent David the little boy to save everyone from Goliathand his threats. People were scared, the army was frightened, as wasSaul the King. This was very distressing. Goliath was dangerously armedand was scary to behold, being of giant stature, yet the optimisticview never departed David's heart. David said, full of tranquility:"Let no man's heart fail because of him" (I Sam 17:32), and promised togo and fight him. And when he was going for the fight, hope neverdeparted him. Instead, David said, "This day the Lord will deliver youinto mine hand" "for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give youinto our hands." (I Sam 17:46,47). So, with each Goliath you meet inyour life, never let your heart fail because of him. On the contrary,with all hope, be sure that God will send you a David with his slingand stone to fight him for you, and save you.
Even if you are trapped between the Red Sea and the chariots ofPharaoh, remember St. Moses phrase "The Lord will fight for you, andyou shall hold your peace." (Ex 14:14). Don't you ever say "We'relost", don't give up, and never let faith, with all its optimistism,depart from you. Have strong faith. Be confident that the Lord iscapable of dividing the sea and making a road for you to go through it.And you will safely get out, as was written "the just shall live byfaith" (He 10:38). The view of fear and suspicion brings desperation -but optimism and faith is confidence that the Lord will do something,even if at the 24th hour.
And if we do not trust God's hand in incidents, we will definitelybecome discomforted. Let's remember God's saying, "Fear not; for I amwith you" and also David's saying to the Lord who is his Shepherd"though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fearno evil" (Ps 23). God was with David and saved him from all of Saul'sconspiracies against him, and saved him from fighting Absalom, from thecounsel of Ahithophel, and also from the troubles of the Joab son ofZeruiah. Jeremiah as well had encountered the same Divineencouragement; he was a boy, afraid of his mission, so God told him,"Do not be dismayed before their faces... For behold, I have made youthis day a fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls againstthe whole land... They will fight against you, But they shall notprevail against you. For I am with you”, says the Lord, “to deliveryou."” (Jr 1:17-19) Also, Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, was barren, andPeninnah her adversary provoked her and made her cry. With hope, Godgave Hannah a son, who is Samuel the Prophet.
Regarding hope and optimism, God says about women who don't bearchildren: "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth intosinging, and cry aloud… Enlarge the place of your tent, and let themstretch out the curtains of your dwellings… For you shall expand to theright and to the left. And your descendants will inherit the nations,and make the desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you will notbe ashamed.” (Is 54:1-4) With the same words of encouragement, He saysabout all those who are in trouble: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is uponMe, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to thepoor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty tothe captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound… Tocomfort all who mourn." (Is 61:1-2) The optimistic view is onsoling,and also is the feeling of hope in God's deeds. It's not what we see,but what God sees for us. And it's not what we do, but what God doesfor us.
That's how we should think, and we should also confidently wait, asDavid the Prophet says in the psalm, "Wait on the Lord; Be of goodcourage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!"(Ps 27:14). But if man fears and says "I'm lost", he speaks - but notout of faith or out of hope - and this doesn't benefit the heart atall. Who might have thought that Moses the child was sentenced to deathbefore he was even born (according to Pharaoh's order to the midwives),this same Moses becomes a great prophet and God's speaker, and manymiracles were been done by him! Who might have thought that MaryMagdalene, who had been healed of seven evil spirits (Lk 8:2) mightbecome a disciple for God, and a bringer of good news of Resurrectionto his disciples (Mk 16:9). It is the work of God in all of them; it isthat which we wait for with hope and optimism. Or who might havethought that Saul of Tarsus, who was aggressively persecuting thechurch, and who brought men and women to jail (Acts 1), might becomethe greatest Apostle in Christianity, as he "labored more abundantlythan they all" (I Cor 15:10). He was caught up into Paradise and heardinexpressible words (2 Co 12:4) It is God's deeds that are beyonddescription. Or who might have thought that Arianus the governor, whowas one of the most violent and cruel governors in the days of kingDiocletian, might allow God's works in his heart, believe inChristianity and become a martyr?
This "hope" was also known to the church through the repentance of manysinners. For example, the repentance of St. Ignatius, St. Moses theBlack, St. Mary the Coptic, St. Pilagya, St. Sarah... How desperatewere their lives, but there is definitely no desperation with the workof God who is able to raise up children to Abraham from stones. (Mt3:9) God's work can change hearts; can even rebuild those hearts, aspreviously promised: "Then will I sprinkle clean water on you, and youshall be clean… I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit withinyou… I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in Mystatutes, and you will keep my judgments and do them…" (Ez 36:25-27)God is able to bring forth sweetness out of the strong. He is able totransform the sinner into a saint.
We can see God's work in our daily lives, in Egypt and in the land ofImmigration, and also in the spreading of the church on all thecontinents of the world. God's work in the past gives us confidence andhope in what He will do in the future. God, who has worked with thepeople, and with the idolatry till He destroyed it, and who also brokethe sting of the atheism, is capable of work now and at all times. Remember, optimism is not what we see, but what God sees for us. Andit's not what we do, but what God does for us.