How do you hope again when you’ve been hurt, and the people who hurt you never made it right? In part 2 on cynicism, we look at the difference between acting out of hurt and acting out of hope, and how worship is how we get out of cynicism.
This picks up from part 1, where we talked about what cynicism is, where it comes from, and the tension of healing without silencing the hurt. If you haven’t listened, start there.
Some of what’s covered:
What Jesus says in Matthew 12:34 to the religious leaders, and why it sounds like what many of us have experienced from our own leaders. God is not silent toward them, and it’s ultimately his responsibility to handle, not ours.
Why being cynical felt like getting something done, when it’s actually passive. It’s choosing to stay in the same condition, without making any progress. And what Ephesians 4:29-32 says in the footnotes of that same verse.
Acting out of hope instead of hurt. We aren’t asked to ignore injustice, but we are asked to bring hope to it, through wisdom and discernment, and out of obedience to God, not hurt.
What hopeful people have: someone to move toward. They stand on the truth of God, they’re zoomed out and seeing with God’s eyes, and they do it all from a position of forgiveness.
Why Jesus came to us with our arms crossed. When we were his enemies and didn’t even want his help, he chose us.
Lamentations 3:19-24, and the choice to call to mind the steadfast love of the Lord and his new mercies. Our souls continually remember the pain, but we can call something else to mind.
Whether I ever saw justice from my situation, and why I can’t wait for justice to come in order to heal. He is the God of justice, not me.
How to worship your way out of cynicism, change your perspective, and actually move forward.
Part of the “Holding the Tension” series, on the Go With God Podcast.
Mentioned in the Episode:
Letting Go Of Resentment: A 7-Day Biblical Workbook for Healing Deep Offense
