tarting Our Day Together: A Few Minutes To Get The Day Started In The Right Direction

Song: “Keep Trusting” by MinisterNeecy

Today’s Message: Staying Positive – The True Test of Trusting God

Good morning, my friends.

Thank you for joining me for another episode of Starting Our Day Together: A Few Minutes To Get The Day Started In The Right Direction.

Today, I want us to think about what it really means to stay positive.

Many people define positivity as believing everything will work out exactly the way they want it to. 

They convince themselves that the promotion will come, the diagnosis will improve, the relationship will be restored, or the financial challenge will disappear.

But I’ve learned something over the years. Staying positive does not mean believing that everything will be okay.

Staying positive means believing that I will be okay no matter how things turn out.

There is a big difference.

One kind of positivity depends on circumstances. The other depends on faith.

As believers, our confidence is not in outcomes; our confidence is in God.

One of my favorite passages is found in Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

Notice that Solomon does not tell us to trust our understanding. 

He tells us to trust the Lord.

Why?

Because there will be moments when what God is doing does not make sense to us.

There will be times when the answer to our prayers is delayed.

There will be seasons when the doors we expected to open remain closed.

There will be circumstances that challenge our faith and test our patience.

The true test of trusting God is not how we respond when everything is going our way.

The true test of trusting God is how we respond when things are not going our way.

Anyone can praise God after receiving good news.

Anyone can rejoice when the bills are paid, the family is healthy, and life is moving according to plan.

But can we still trust Him when the answer is “wait”?

Can we still trust Him when the answer is “no”?

Can we still trust Him when we don’t understand what He is doing?

That is where faith becomes real.

When I look back over my life, I realize that some of my greatest blessings came disguised as disappointments. 

Some of the doors I desperately wanted opened would have led me away from God’s greater purpose. 

Some of the challenges I prayed to avoid became the very experiences that strengthened my character and deepened my relationship with Him.

God never promised us a trouble-free life.

Jesus said: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (ESV)

Notice that Jesus did not say we might have trouble. He said we will have trouble.

But He also gave us a reason to remain encouraged.

Our hope is not in the absence of problems.

Our hope is in the presence of God.

That means even when circumstances change, God does not.

Even when plans fail, God does not.

Even when people disappoint us, God does not.

And because God does not change, we can face every challenge with confidence.

Not confidence that everything will turn out the way we want.

But confidence that God will carry us through whatever comes our way.

That’s what staying positive really means.

It’s waking up each morning and saying:

“Lord, I don’t know what today holds, but I know You hold today.”

“I don’t know how this situation will end, but I know You will never leave me nor forsake me.”

“I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I know that with You by my side, I will be okay.”

Today’s Challenge

Throughout this day, whenever worry tries to take hold of your mind, replace it with this simple declaration:

“My faith is not in the outcome. My faith is in God.”

Then remind yourself:

“No matter how things turn out, God is with me, and I will be okay.”

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, 

thank You for being faithful in every season of life. 

Help us to trust You when we understand and when we do not. 

Teach us to place our confidence not in circumstances, but in Your unchanging character. 

Give us the strength to face uncertainty with faith and challenges with courage. 

  Remind us that because You are with us, we can walk forward without fear. 

  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

My friends, remember: 

Staying positive is not believing that life will always go according to your plans. 

Staying positive is knowing that because God is in control, you will be okay no matter how things turn out.

Have a blessed day, stay encouraged, and keep moving forward in faith.