Are You Stubborn?
Have you ever had a moment when someone said, "Oh, you're just being stubborn!"? You might have thought, "Me, stubborn? Never!" But then you felt a nudge, a twinge of something in the back of your mind. Could it be, dare we say, stubbornness? Now, before you shift uncomfortably in your chair, hear me out.
When I say "stubborn", I'm not talking about the teeth-gritting, dig-your-heels-in type of stubbornness we associate with an obstinate mule. Rather, I'm speaking of a specific kind of stubbornness: stubborn optimism. It's a term I stumbled upon while delving into the environmental movement. It was used to describe a mindset where an individual remains hopeful, regardless of external circumstances. Intriguing, isn't it?
Stubborn optimism isn't born out of success; it's the necessary spark we need to confront challenges. It's not about being blind to reality but rather choosing to remain hopeful. Here's the twist: As I pondered over this, I realised, I've been practicing stubborn optimism all along, but I'd been calling it faith.
Faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1, is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. It's the embodiment of stubborn optimism. But what does stubborn optimism look like in our Christian walk? Let's explore this together.
Take a moment to recall the story of Pharaoh in the Bible. Now there was a man who was stubborn, in a way that led him down a destructive path. His heart was hardened, and no amount of miraculous plagues could persuade him to let the Israelites go. However, this form of stubbornness isn't what we're aiming for. Instead, our model of stubbornness should be more in line with someone like, say, Abraham.
Remember old Abraham? The man who dared to believe that he would be the father of many nations even though he was about a hundred and childless? Now, that's stubborn optimism! Or faith, as we know it.
Yet, being stubbornly optimistic isn't only about having faith in a brighter future. It's also about living that faith out, here and now. Let me tell you a little story from my personal life. You see, I've always been fond of gardening. Now, anyone who's tried to grow something knows it requires stubborn optimism or, as I like to call it, "green-thumb faith". There were days when I'd look at a wilted plant and think, "This is it. Game over." But I kept going, watering, pruning, waiting, and believing. And what do you think happened? You've guessed it; often, those plants would surprise me with a burst of new growth.
Just like that wilting plant, there might be times when our faith seems like it's fading, like we're running on empty. The world around us might look like a desert, barren of hope and life. Yet, remember Isaiah 35? It paints a picture of a desert in bloom, streams in the wilderness, and weak hands strengthened. This passage is all about stubborn optimism, about leaning on God's promises for a future where sorrow and sighing will flee away.
However, it's not enough just to wait for these promises. We need to actively live them out. We can strengthen the weak hands and encourage the fearful hearts around us right now. We can promote a climate of faith and stubborn optimism in our daily lives.
You might be thinking, "Well, this sounds all well and good, but what if I trip and fall?" And to that, I'd say, "So what? Even if you trip, even if you fall flat on your face, remember Peter walking on water?" He had the audacity to step out of a perfectly good boat in the middle of a storm, all because Jesus had said, "Come." That's stubborn optimism in action, folks! Sure, Peter sank when he took his eyes off Jesus, but let's not forget he did walk on water, however briefly.
So, even if you stumble, it's alright. As long as you're willing to refocus on Jesus, pick yourself up, and continue on your way. There's no room for self-pity in stubborn optimism. Only resilience and hope.
Consider the metaphor of the "Highway of Holiness" in Isaiah 35. It's not a back alley or a narrow, treacherous path; it's a highway, raised up and set apart for God's people. And who does the Bible say will travel on it? The redeemed and the rescued. Not the perfect, not the flawless, but the redeemed. Jesus Himself says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That's our highway. And yes, we might trip and fall along the way, but it's the destination that matters. And guess what, we're stubbornly optimistic about reaching it.
But you might ask, "How can we be so certain?" It's because we're not placing our trust in human strength or wisdom. Our optimism is rooted in something far greater: God's faithfulness. When the world says, "There is no guarantee we will succeed. We've never done anything like this before," we can confidently respond, "My faith has a guarantee. It has been done before."
Our faith points us back to the cross, where Christ triumphed over sin and death, assuring us of victory. We remember this every time we partake of the bread and wine. So, you see, our stubborn optimism isn't merely wishful thinking. It's not blind hope in a possibility. It's a joyful certainty in a promise that has already been fulfilled.
I don't know about you, but that certainly puts a smile on my face. It's a joyous picture of the kingdom to come and a thrilling perspective of our journey towards it. And as we continue in this journey, let's cultivate our stubborn optimism, our faith.
Just like my resilient garden plants, may we continue to grow and flourish, no matter what. And remember, being stubborn isn't always a bad thing, especially when it comes to faith. So, I ask you again, are you stubborn? Better yet, are you stubbornly optimistic? I hope so! God bless you on your journey of faith, of stubborn optimism. You're on the Highway of Holiness, my friend, and what a splendid journey it will be!
