Hope vs Optimism
Hope and optimism: are they the same? I recently was asked this and my initial, brief, response was that optimism is something anyone can have, regardless of belief, whereas hope holds a spiritual atmosphere. The conversation isn’t over, but now that I have had time to ponder the initial question of whether hope and optimism are the same, I’m still unsure if they are or not.
Optimism, by it’s very definition is a doctrine that this world is the best possible world, with an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome. Thanks to Merriam-Webster for that definition. Hope, on the other hand, is to cherish a desire with anticipation, to desire with expectation of obtainment, to expect with confidence.(Ibid.) At least those are the standard definitions.
Faith is what gives us the idea that whether things work out as we hope, it will work out for the best in God’s ways. We hope for the best, we hope that what we are asking for is God’s will, we hope the result will be what we want, that we will be happy with the end product, situation.
Perhaps I would do better to try and compare faith and optimism. Compare. Because it is faith that gives us that belief that everything is in God’s hands and that allows us to do our best and know that regardless of the outcome, it will be God’s will for our own best. That sounds much like optimism.
Optimism just doesn’t give me the same sense of spirituality like hope -and faith- do. It might be a state of positive expectation that one falls into after faith has done her work. I don’t think so. I think optimism gives more of an air that things just work out okay, because that’s what I expect, whether God has anything to do with it or not.
Optimism is good, don’t take me wrongly. But as I said anyone can be optimistic. And indeed believers may very well give that air of all things work out okay (Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to them who love God to them who are the called according to His Word.) But what a believer needs to display is a deeper sense of optimism, that surety of faith, truly believing that God is and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Have the Faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, and know that nothing is impossible with God.
How does that play out? Well, for one, you understand that the current state of affairs is nothing new to God. He’s known all along that these things will happen. When he created this earth, He gave us enough for all time. He didn’t “forget” that the population would grow so large; nor did He have an “oops” moment where he didn’t plan for the increase in technology or the need for plenty of natural resources. He’s told us in His Word to not fear, not be anxious. It’s all part of His plan.
As I have said before, if I can trust God for my salvation, to keep me from hell and allow me into heaven (which I do trust Him for) then I can certainly trust Him that He knows the troubles on earth today, and exactly where we are in this thing called “life.” Now, that’s not just optimism, that’s hope exhibited by faith.