May our optimism be informed by the hope that attends the reality-embracing freedom of the cross. Sinners in a sinful world redeemed from the curse of sin and awaiting the glories of a sinless existence. Optimism is beyond appropriate.

“Yes and I will rejoince, for  I know that through your prayers and the help of the SPirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

“Having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.”    II Corinthians 4:1

“How do you handle discouragement?  … Some of us can become impatient, some of us may give in to murmuring, some of us may opt for some form of self-medication in hopes of just drowning the discouragement out.  What kept the apostle Paul from throwing in the towel was the mercy of God.  When you know you deserved death, and you get life, it changes everything.  Paul never got over having experienced the mercy of God in his life – of being able to get what he didn’t deserve.  That gives Paul the power to persevere.  Paul’s secret is that he never lost sight of it.  He never got over God’s mercy, and throughout his life it changed everything. Mercy was Paul’s medicine.”

-Rev. Paul Beck, preaching here

HT: Gavin Ortlund