Christian Optimism in Dark Days

It is hard to be hopeful in dark days. Many Christians in the West are used to the comfort that came from being the majority in our society. To see such favor wane results in our grasping at something we once had. When our grandparents reminisced about “the good ol’ days,” it was from a perspective of feeling that those days were long gone, never to return. In the West, Christians reflect on a bygone era that doesn’t seem that far behind us. Yet in other respects, it is eons ago. This sense of loss and longing can produce within us a certain pessimism, a type of settled despair. In such a context, we can begin to wonder if hope and optimism are even reasonable.

Worse still, we read the expectations of Scripture and know we will suffer, for a servant is not greater than his master (John 13:16). Thus, we shouldn’t presume to be treated better by the world than our Lord was. Regularly throughout the New Testament, we’re told to expect suffering, opposition, and difficulty. In fact, the correction is that we should not be surprised when such challenges arise (see 1 John 3:13; John 15:18–20; 2 Tim. 3:12). We read in the pages of the Bible about struggling churches, imprisoned and beaten Apostles, opposed prophets and missionaries, and trials of every kind. Even the so-called “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 is a list of people who suffered for the Lord’s sake, and the passage reaches its crescendo with these words:

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised. (Heb. 11:35–39)

How is one supposed to be hopeful when this describes the Christian life?
In the midst of such bleak realities, the Bible calls us—in these very same sections of Scripture—to faith and hope despite everything we see around us. That is what marks these faithful Christians of old as ones of whom the world was not worthy. The passage began with the memorable words, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1), and ends with, “God had provided something better for us” (Heb. 11:40). It then goes on to point us to Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). The suffering in this life immediately takes the biblical authors—and by extension, it should take us as well—directly to the cross. What event appeared more hopeless than the Savior of the world dying, seemingly defeated on the tree? It was so dismal that the disciples went back to fishing. They thought they had found the Messiah, the Son of God, the One for whom the whole of history waited. And, as it seemed to them, He failed. They initially thought they may as well give up and go back to “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” as the best one can do in this life.

And yet, Christ Himself was not hopeless in the face of certain death (Heb. 12:2). Christian hope is not confidence that circumstances will improve on our preferred timetable or in our preferred way. Rather, it is confidence that Christ is reigning, the resurrection is true, and our God loves to bring light out of darkness. This is true faith, friends: We look at the fiery trials around us and we’re not surprised (1 Peter 4:12) nor dismayed. Instead, like the righteous person of the Proverbs, we smile at the future (Prov. 31:25).

Call us naive. Call us foolish. That’s fine. The world has always thought of Christians in such ways (1 Cor. 1:18). But the person of faith can be calm and quieted even in the face of trouble (Ps. 131:1–3). In fact, the Psalms uniquely describe the righteous person as someone who does not fear dark days:

He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. (Ps. 112:7)

That is because, like the resurrection itself, “Light dawns in the darkness for the upright” (Ps. 112:4).

Dear Christian, do not be troubled by present challenges, and do not be pessimistic. You serve a God who loves to work in dire circumstances. That way, when deliverance and goodness come, it is clear Who has brought it to pass. Not only is it OK to hope; it’s what Christians uniquely do.