Hi friend,
It’s been so long since I’ve shared a blog here, but I really felt led to do so today and on this topic.
The other day I saw a comment on social media that said, “I just learned about toxic positivity” and the reply was “I hate that fake happy ——.” Why do I share the specifics of these comments? I feel that it’s important to state where this all stems from and it is from a worldly standpoint rather than a Godly place.
I really have to disagree that ANY kind of positivity is toxic. I believe that being positive even in hard situations or seasons of life, can create a ripple effect. Now, don’t let this dismiss that life is hard. Life can throw some major curveballs at us that can really put a damper on our moods or perspective, but at the end of the day, we’re in control of our response. It’s the same as being nice, if you’re nice to someone, chances are, they’ll be nice back.
As someone who’s dealt with depression in my past and all before following Christ, I must add — the enemy will pervert you into thinking there is no end in sight. He convinces you that you will always be miserable, life will not get better, what’s the point in continuing on? I’m here to testify that there is so much worth continuing on, and to fight another day.
While the enemy tells us there is no hope, Jesus tells us there is hope and freedom found in Him. And only Him alone. When I was saved, the depression I lived in for years, fell off of me. The sound of chains hitting the ground will forever be imbedded into my brain. Not everything is instantly changed or all sunshine & rainbows when we give our lives to Jesus, but with our consistency and faith in Him — He will change everything that we allow Him to touch in our lives and in our hearts.
When I suffered with PPD, I now see that Jesus was my only means of survival. The enemy was swallowing me whole, for months. I feel like I barely got out and I was just begging to grab just the hem of Jesus’ garment to get out. That if I just had one touch of him, I’d see the light and my faith in him led me to see the light at the end of that tunnel again.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
This faithfulness to Him led me to a real place of transformation and a life of positivity over a life where I felt like a dark cloud was floating above me. Any time I feel this trying to make its way back, I know I must rebuke it and speak life over myself.
I know many of you will mention how people live a life on social media that portrays that everything is perfect (positive), but we are who controls what we see and believe. We cannot trust that what is posted online is real. So much that is online is deception and from the enemy. We cannot claim this to be toxic positivity either, I would say that it is just deception. The reality is, it is just a troubled soul trying to convince themselves and others that their lives are like something it truly isn’t. That is something they need to bring to Jesus and we need to learn not to vulnerable to this trap.
To close out, I am not saying that you should mask your problems, dismiss your feelings, or just “get over it”. We are human, remember this - you are a child of God. A God who loves you right where you are and just wants YOU. He wants you to lay your problems and situations at His feet. In Jesus we find hope. We find light in the darkness.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5
So regardless of how bad things seem or how bad things could get, there is always hope.
- Brittany