Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always). – 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Amplified Bible

From the most fragile blade of grass to the most brilliant star in the sky, all things share the same fate: death. Some things dies more slowly than others, but all things in this universe will face the same end.

For mankind, death is an inseparable part of our sin nature, and the decay of death invades our thought life as well as our physical life. Our thoughts point in the direction of decay by default. As proof of this ask yourself this question, “What is your reflex reaction when something doesn’t go your way?” If something doesn’t go quite the way you planned, anger, resentment, brooding, or pessimism is what you naturally find yourself contending with.

It takes no effort at all to be negative because negativity is hard-wired into us as part of our sin nature. What does take effort is transforming pessimism into optimism, and that transformation only takes place when we make a choice to buck the natural order of things and to think contrarily to our negative nature. That is exactly what God (through Paul) commands us to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (Amplified Bible)

16 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);

17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];

18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

In short, God tells us to shun pessimism in favor of optimism and to replace our natural tendency toward negativity with the supernatural practice of rejoicing. We are commanded to be cheery no matter what our circumstances, and through our cheeriness we will draw those trapped in the natural order of decay to the resurrected life of Jesus Christ.

How can we be optimisitc and cheery, even when our world is crumbling around us? Remember the lesson of Lamentations 3:22, 23: God’s mercies are new every morning. Although you may not have what you want, you have what you need. Although you may have lost every penny, you have the riches of Heaven. Although you may have been abandoned by all of your family and friends, you have the risen Savior at your side. And although death may be knocking at your door, you have eternal life awaiting you just around the corner.

Count your blessings, name then one by one! Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Meditate upon the mercies that God has supplied you with today, and your natural tendency to despair will flee at the brightness of God’s glory shining in your life!