A Sermon
Delivered on Wednesday Evening, February 18th, 2026, by
Evangelist PAUL ACQUAH,
Live on MZ Radio London, London UK.
We’ve all heard the advice: “Just stay positive.” “Look on the bright side.” But let’s be honest… sometimes, the bright side is hard to find. Life has a way of throwing curveballs that no amount of positive thinking can fix. So, what do you do when the diagnosis is scary? What do you do when the bills are due? What do you do when the future feels like a fog? Is there a hope that doesn’t depend on everything going right? Today, we discover a hope that is deeper than optimism – it’s a confidence rooted in the character of God Himself. In today’s message titled “Godly Optimism,” Evangelist Paul Acquah explores what it truly means to move beyond just hoping for the best and start living with a confident expectation of God’s goodness. Be blessed as you listen!
Godly optimism is maintaining a positive attitude that God is at work in your life, knowing that He is good and that your future is secure in Him. Godly optimism is not merely positive thinking or ignoring reality, but a firm, unwavering confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ and the faithfulness of God’s Word. It is a perspective anchored in the belief that God is actively working for the good of the believer, regardless of current circumstances (Romans 8:28). Godly optimism is a “philosophy” through which a believer interprets life’s events, choosing to focus on God’s promises rather than negative circumstances. Unlike “bad hope” or superficial optimism that relies on selfish desires, godly optimism is aligned with God’s will and His Word.
We needtorecognise that God is loving and merciful. Godly optimisminvolves choosing a positive attitude by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide thoughts and desires. Understand that the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off. It’s the conviction that, because of the cross, even painful experiences are temporary, and the ultimate outcome is victory. Godly optimism requires a deliberate, proactive focus on God’s Word rather than relying on circumstances. It requires effort to resist the natural tendency toward discouragement.
Being optimistic is not about ignoring life’s challenges or pretending everything is perfect; rather, it is a productive mindset that enables you to navigate, manage, and ultimately rise above your problems by focusing on solutions rather than the obstacles. So staying positive or being optimistic is not about ignoring reality, but about ensuring that the Word of God has more influence on your life than the negativity of the world.
Cultivating an optimistic mindset will enable you to overcome life’s problems. If you want to rise above your problems, then stay positive or be optimistic. Most people are negative. They would rather talk about a problem than offer a solution. They would rather complain than praise. They would rather listen to and believe in what the media is saying than what the word of God says. The media thrives on controversy and tragedy. Watch the news, read the newspaper, or listen to the negative conversations of those around you long enough, and you’ll find yourself discouraged. You would be in a negative mind set. So how do you stay optimistic in the midst of negative circumstances? You can rise above the noise of negativity and live your life according to the promises of God’s Word. Being optimistic affects the state of your heart, and as a result, directly impacts the world around you. Learn how to use your time to reflect God’s kingdom and to fulfil your purpose in life.
I’m talking about how to stay optimistic in all the negative things around us. We definitely are living in a negative world where all of the bad things are being amplified, magnified, exaggerated, and the good things are being diminished. You need to know the word of God and his promises and that will help you have a positive attitude no matter what’s going on around you. If I could talk to every one of you listening, there’re some of you who live this way, but the vast majority of Christians and even the regular church goers let your mind be controlled by what you see and hear instead of by the word of God. So, when you run into trouble, you just either sit and worry and let it bother you or you run to somebody else and ask for help. You don’t know how to encourage yourself in the Lord. I’m telling you, this is how you do it: you take the word of God and meditate on it until it begins to rejoice your heart. It’ll work every time. If you believe what the word of God says, if these things are true, thereis no excuse for any of us being depressed and defeated. We are more than conquerors. I don’t care what’s going on in the world, it doesn’t matter who is the president, It doesn’t matter what’s going on. The word of God will change the way you see things. Don’t see temporary things as permanent (2 Corinthians 4:18).
