So I get asked a lot, “Fusco, how are you so positive all the time?”
And honestly, I love this question! 1 Peter 3:15 says, “And always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”
The truth is: I am a positive person. It’s just my natural personality. Call it optimism, or positivity, or enthusiasm…I just tend to see the glass half full.
But it’s more than just ‘positive for positive’s sake.’ I don’t get through tough times wearing rose-colored glasses, ignoring the challenges I experience. I’ve very aware of the difficulties I face….as a Pastor, as a parent, a husband and as a friend. But even in the midst of tough times, I still tend to stay positive. Why? Well, the fact is, being positive is a choice. I CHOOSE to stay positive, even if times are tough. And you can too.
Do you want to know my secret? I’m happy to tell you! My hope isn’t in my job, or relationships, or my circumstances. My hope is in Jesus…and He never wavers or changes.
Now, does He always do exactly what I want Him to do exactly the way I want Him to do it exactly when I want Him to do it? Haha…nope, not even close. It’s almost like He’s God, and I’m not (newsflash!). But if there’s one thing I know about Him, it’s that He’s good, and I can trust Him…even when I don’t understand Him.
A fantastic verse on this topic is Romans 8:37, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” If you haven’t already, commit this verse to memory. I love how it says, “In all these things…’ALL’ means ‘ALL,’ every single thing. The good, the bad and the ugly, we will conquer through it all. Look at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Just when it looked like He was finished and His ministry was over, He conquered death and sin forever when He was raised from the dead. When it looked like all hope was lost, He was doing His greatest work. And through HIM, we can conquer in all things, too.
So every day I have a choice: to focus on everything that’s going wrong in my life (and let’s be honest…there’s always something) or to focus on Jesus. He loves me and works all things out for my good (Rom 8:28).
I choose Jesus. I choose hope. I choose to see that even in trying times I can believe that God is working in my life and through Him, I am a conqueror. I choose to see the positive side of my experiences and give thanks for the good things in my life and the things that are great blessings (and let’s be honest, there’s always something).