What is a Christian response to the negativity rampant in society?

Christians should expect life to involve struggles and troubles but should not succumb to negativity because of that. Christians have eternal hope in Christ through whom we are renewed and strengthened.

what does the bible say?

Christians are called to rise above the negativity of the world by placing their hope and trust in God rather than in circumstances or self-reliance (Psalm 43:5; Isaiah 40:31). The Bible reminds us that life will include struggles, suffering, and opposition, yet through Christ we are renewed, strengthened, and empowered to endure (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12). Complaining and grumbling demonstrate fear and lack of trust, but God invites us to cast our anxieties on Him, drawing strength and peace from His presence (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7). Our hope in God allows us to be beacons of His hope in a broken world, looking upward and reflecting His light (Philippians 2:14-15; Galatians 6:2). Our contentment and courage come from relying on Christ’s strength, which enables us to face life’s challenges while pointing others to God’s eternal promises (Philippians 4:11-13; Romans 8:28).

from the old testament

Grumbling and complaining has always been distasteful to God, and it should be to us, as well (Numbers 14:27).
In a beautiful passage about who God is and how He treats His people, the prophet Isaiah writes, “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). When we feel the weight of our emotional burdens and the negativity threatens to take over, we should never forget that God is the Great Healer. Praying to Him and anchoring ourselves in His Word can bring us out of despair.
Hopelessness is a common response to the darkness within and around us. People are tempted to believe that the wrongs in the world cannot be righted. Our Christian response to this should be to hope in God and use that hope to encourage others (Psalm 43:5).

from the new testament

Reading Scripture and remembering that God is ultimately in control helps us to separate ourselves from negativity that threatens to consume us. Jesus didn’t promise us an easy life, but He promised us victory over it in Him (John 16:33).
Sometimes, negativity and complaining are rooted in fear. We worry about how our struggles will be resolved. But as Paul wrote to Timothy, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
God is faithful to complete His good work and fulfill His promises to us (Philippians 1:6). We have this hope “as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (see Hebrews 6:17–20; see also Luke 6:20–23).
God-given faith means that we have the means to overcome negativity. It doesn’t mean that we should pretend that real problems and struggles don’t exist or bother us. But as Christians, we can cry out to God and bring our concerns to Him. God invites us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), and when we do this, He uplifts and empowers us to encourage others.
As Christians who rise above the surrounding negativity, we are beacons of hope to the world. The apostle Paul wrote, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).
Christians are all God’s children, and when we see a fellow Christian consumed by negativity, we should try to help that person (Galatians 6:2).

implications for today

“Bad day?” your spouse might ask if your expression is sour. And most of the time, if the answer is “yes,” it might mean you had a series of mishaps—e.g., a work disagreement, traffic on the way home, forgetting to thaw the chicken for tonight’s dinner. But imagine being “beaten with rods,” stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked three times, being frequently hungry, cold, and even betrayed by those you trust (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Now that’s more than that bad day! Yet the apostle Paul, who experienced all of that, could still say, “. . . I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. . . I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (Philippians 4:11-12). What was his “secret”? Paul gives us the answer: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Christians are not promised an easy life. Many Christians around the world are persecuted for their beliefs. Even if we don’t experience that, we must still face the pain of a fallen world—e.g., illnesses, deaths of loved ones, and more. When such tribulations happen, our first step shouldn’t be to rant about it on social media. Instead, we should do what the old Christian hymn tells us: Take it to the Lord in prayer. In God, there is always hope. He may not resolve our problem as we would like Him to. But He is our comfort in the midst of our storms and knows the joy He has in store for us. He loves us and works “all things” for our good (Romans 8:28). When we trust in the Lord, we gain the contentment that Paul wrote about. And we become a light in a negative world, a light people are drawn to. We become a walking witness to God’s power.

Recap

understand

Christians rise above negativity by trusting in God’s strength rather than their own.
Life includes struggles, but prayer, faith, and hope in God provide endurance and contentment.
Christians are called to be lights in a negative world, encouraging others and pointing them to God.

reflect

How do you respond when negativity surrounds you, and how do you seek God to change your heart attitude?
How does your faith help you maintain contentment during times of struggle?
How do you intentionally let your words and actions shine with God’s light, even in the midst of negativity?

engage

How can we encourage each other to rise above negativity while not ignoring difficulty, sin, or devastation?
How can we act as beacons of hope in a world filled with discouragement?
How can we help fellow Christians who are struggling with despair or negativity?