𝗣𝗚 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 | 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗫𝗜𝗖 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗬?

 

𝗣𝗚 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 | 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗫𝗜𝗖 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗬?

𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟰:𝟰: “𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀. 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻: 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲!”

We live in a time when people push constant, bright positivity. They say things like “Just think positive!” or “Good vibes only!” This is called toxic positivity. 

It is a fake, surface-level way of acting happy that ignores real pain and suffering. It uses empty words to cover up hurt. It forces people to smile even when their heart is breaking. This leaves people feeling alone and like their feelings don't matter.

Biblical joy and praise are different. They are not a fake mask we wear to hide pain. They are strong —even when tears are present. It’s what let Paul write from prison: “𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀. 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆: 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲!” (𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟰:𝟰).

𝗧𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀: “Your problem isn't real. Just smile!” But the Bible teaches us to cry out in pain and sadness. For example, in 𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟭𝟯:𝟭, the writer says: “𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗? 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿?”

𝗧𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀: “Everything happens for a reason—just find the good in it!” But Jesus tells us clearly in 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟲:𝟯𝟯: “𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁! 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.” He admits the trouble is real, but He also promises victory.

Jesus acknowledges our struggle and secures our victory. We don’t ignore suffering or injustice. We face it squarely—but from the unshakable position of Christ’s finished work.

So, when we praise, we praise from the solid ground of a victory that is already won—not from feelings we have to force or make up.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗗 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗸𝘂