Christian Living

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How to Avoid the Cynical Path
by Dan Blankenship


During my days as a participating student in America’s public education system, one of the things I remember most is the constant cynicism some of the students exhibited. Teachers were just trying to control the students’ every move, the kind of math we were learning would never be used in real life applications, and who really cares about the past U.S. presidents were just a few of the comments I heard on more than one occasion. And I remember parroting some of these comments. Negativity and cynicism are as contagious as chickenpox.

As I grew older, I began to notice that most of the people spouting negative slogans throughout their daily lives seemed to be unhappy, disorganized, and reluctant to take calculated risks – submitting a resume for that job they really want, trying a new sport, or seeking knowledge about a particular subject that has always intrigued them. They explained away such actions as “a waste of time”, but had absolutely no problem wasting time complaining about their lot in life, the weather, or the price of goods, and a good many other things that were often out of their control.

I then started to perceive that successful people – people who seem genuinely content in their daily accomplishments, and even failures – were quick to accept most negative events that invaded their personal space, understanding that life is not always on the upswing. This is not to say that successful people are like robots, completely oblivious to the emotional and physical struggles that humans experience. It’s just that upbeat and positive thinkers tend to always keep their eyes on the top of the mountain, even when they are down in the valley, possibly sinking in mud.

About ten years ago, I developed a visual exercise to help me stop parroting negative attitudes and influences. When I was younger, I used to play a few role-playing video games that involved characters who would happen upon bottles of poison, which could cause damage to the hero or be used to subdue a villain. The bottle usually looked like a see-through flask more than two-third full of a green liquid. Well when people would begin sounding off with negative commentaries about life, I tried to visualize them attempting to hand me a flask of poison to drink up. Naturally, I would not drink poison if it were knowingly placed in my possession, so this comparison made me contemplate the need to reject the verbal poison that others so frequently offered. My refusal to latch on to their downbeat dialogue – and sometimes gently offering a positive rebuttal – became my way of handing them back the poison flask, “return to sender” clearly visible on the container.

God does not want us to go through life worried or troubled. He wants us to trust in His ability to lift us out of any trial or burden. Nahum 1:7 (NIV) tells us that, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end to Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness.” God has promised to “care” for those who trust in him! How much trust do we have when we rant and rave about the little inconveniences that make our day a bit uncomfortable? Not much, I would have to say.

The poison of worry and doubt can be defeated by the shield of an omnipotent God – “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalms 4:8 NIV). God wants us to know He not only understands our suffering, He wants us to constantly turn to him for comfort and strength: "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.” (Psalms 138:7 NIV).

It is important to God that we not walk down the cynical path that Satan would like us to follow. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) makes it very clear that believers must not be poisoned by the will of others who do not have the antidote for sin running through their veins; “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you.”

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