Pastor Geoff Woodward from Metro Church joined Bec and Asa on Drive to talk about hope and positivity in the age of pessimism.

“I actually think that a pessimistic believer is an anomaly,” began Geoff. “In other words, it’s something that just doesn’t add up.”

He referenced a verse in Romans 15:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

“And I just think, even in a world like ours where it seems like uncertainty is at record kind of levels, there is always cause for hope inside of our lives, no matter, what’s going on in our world. I think hope is a strong foundational part of being a follower of Christ.”

The Definition of Hope

Pastor Geoff broke the definition of hope down to a simple phrase.

“I think hope is a that whatever’s coming up ultimately is going to have a good end. That’s as simple as I can make it,” said Geoff.

He said there are pessimistic Christians, despite everything we learn from scripture.

“I certainly think they are an anomaly. We’ve become so enculturated with the world in which we live, we are attuned to bad news.”

He observed that many of us act like the world we live in is the worst or getting worse.

“If we go back even 100 years and see there’s a lot of cause for optimism. And that’s even outside of the whole fact that according to what we believe as Christians, there is a God who’s in charge.”

When my spirit fainted within me, you know my way.

Psalm 142:3

Psalm 23

“And in Psalm 23 it says you prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.”

He argued, that even though we don’t know the outcome, God does.

“It’s not some sort of mind trick. Those of us that have come to know God in an intimate way will say that has been our experience. Things that once looked terrible somehow seem to have a good outcome.”

Train Yourself

If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

Eccesiastes 11:3

“I always used to go, like, that’s got to be the dumbest verse that’s ever been in the Bible. Like, what’s that about? And then I remember one day working out that it’s whatever way the tree grows and leans towards, that’s the direction it’s going to fall,” said Geoff.

He said it comes down to training yourself towards it.

“So if I keep living my life leaning towards negative things and fear and worry, some of that stuff is literally a learned experience in our life. And so I think I can strengthen hope in my life every day by being grateful.”

A great practice that many psychologists are recommending is, before going to bed, finding three things you are grateful for that day.

“Also, something to look forward to the next day. That’s what I call strengthening the hope muscle in your life.”

Check out the full chat with Pastor Geoff Woodward below.