Our happiness and joy in life depend largely on our attitude of mind and heart. If we take a positive attitude toward ourselves and life in general, and if we approach our problems and work with the right mental outlook, we will have already taken a major step toward success. But if we hold a negative attitude, life becomes a struggle, and we will miss the joyful life God intends for us.
Many Christians live defensively. They are always facing an enemy, either outside or within. They see everything as against them. They expect circumstances to hinder them and look ahead with misgivings. Will they succeed? Can they overcome the obstacles and enemies they face?
Some are in constant fear of the devil. Even at night, they think of him and are afraid. They see life as a continual struggle against his power. They envision enemies on every side. Within, they find a similar discouraging outlook. Life becomes a battle of self-repression, forcing themselves into rigid behavior and thinking patterns.
Their main question is: Can I conquer myself? Can I keep the unruly parts of me in check? They anticipate an endless struggle with self, always afraid of doing or saying something wrong. They feel their own weakness and tremble at what each day may bring. They scrutinize their conduct and emotions to the smallest detail. They are never at peace. If not troubled about the past, they are anxious about the future. Constant self-examination of actions and emotions leads to bondage, not freedom or happiness.
Many who desire to serve the Lord see it as a constant cycle of denial and repression. Their lives hold more fear than joy, more trembling than rejoicing and more doubt than trust. But this negative life is not what the Bible teaches. A negative outlook contradicts the Christian life described in Scripture. “Be anxious for nothing” is the message of the Bible. God calls us to live positively and to be on the offensive.
Christianity is not so much about not doing, as it is about doing. It is less about restraint and more about channeling our energies in the right direction. We are called to look away from ourselves — our weaknesses, faults, and failures — and to look to Christ, the life-giver; the Holy Spirit, the power-giver; and God, our merciful Father, watching over us for good. There will be things in our lives to repress and guide, and enemies to face, but these should not be our main focus. Our attention should be on constructive work for God. We are to use our abilities, not merely restrain them from wrong. It is our privilege to be courageous, confident, and expectant of victory.
God wants us to be serene, without anxiety. He said, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest.” Do you have rest in your soul? If not, perhaps it is because you are straining and struggling when you should be trusting and resting in confident assurance in God. When we rest in faith on God’s promises, we become conscious of divine help. We must keep our hearts open to God’s power, not trusting in ourselves but in His sufficiency. His grace is offered to us, and His power will be supplied for every need. In Him, we can rest with full assurance there will be no lack of what is necessary to make us overcomers in any situation.
This positive life is the way of happiness and victory.
Charles Wesley Naylor is considered one of the most prolific and inspiring songwriters of the Church of God. He was bedridden for much of his adult life but wrote eight books, a newspaper column and more than 150 songs. Many of his writings are in the public domain.
