Pessimists are people “who expect bad things to happen to them... who are doubtful or hesitant about positive outcomes... They have the attitude that things will go wrong and that people’s wishes or aims are unlikely to be fulfilled” (American Psychological Association).

I must admit… I profess to be a Christian — I love and follow Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life, he has made me a new creation, I am living in the power of the Holy Spirit — but I fit the description above. Doesn’t really match up, does it?

My dad recently drove himself to the E.R. due to chest pain. After several hours of tests, they determined that he needed quintuple bypass surgery. The waiting period was agonizing. I knew God had the power to heal my dad, but would he?

All my life, I’ve always anticipated the worst-case scenario. If the worst does happen, I won’t be disappointed, and if all goes well, I will be pleasantly surprised… right?

This mindset, that I thought was a decent way to cope with worry, only continued to steal my joy. Even when the surgeon told me that my dad’s surgery had been successful, my relief and happiness was short-lived and my mind began to wander back into pessimism.

With the help of my therapist and trusted friends, I’ve come to realize that my instinct to think of the worst-case scenario is not at all from God, but from the enemy. This may seem obvious to some of you, but I didn’t realize that the enemy has continuously tried to steal, kill, and destroy my mind in this way.

Take a look again at today’s passage. If you’ve surrendered your heart, soul, and mind to Jesus, you are his sheep. He calls by your name and leads you out of the wilderness. Because his Spirit dwells within you, you will know his voice. He empowers you to resist the devil, to not be overcome by evil, and to recognize the enemy’s voice (James 4:7; Romans 12:21; John 10:5).

Today’s passage is a reminder to you and to me that no darkness or evil will overcome those protected by the Father’s hand. No one can snatch us from our God. The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). He is greater than all!

Father, thank you for reminding me that I am safe and secure in you. Help me dwell on you when I become pessimistic. Renew my mind and help me to trust you as you through my dark thoughts.

Throughout This Day: When the enemy whispers pessimistic thoughts into your ear, don’t just ask the Lord to help you think positively. Ask him to help you understand why those thoughts are there, ask what triggers them, and ask him to renew your mind. I encourage you to read or listen to John chapter 10 in full, too.

Song of Reflection: "I Will Trust My Savior Jesus" by CityAlight When relevant, we’ll include a song that can help you reflect further on today’s subject. If you have song recommendations that are relevant to today’s passage or devotional, feel free to share them with us!



Tags: Daily Devotional John 10
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