A Cure for Cynicism

During this harsh season of transition and shaking, it’s easy to turn cynical. 

"Cynic: a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested [unbiased] points of view. Attitude." - Dictionary.com

A word search for "cynic" in Biblehub.com led me to only one verse, where Jacob/Israel had turned cynical during the many years he believed Joseph was dead. 

“[Jacob's sons] informed their father, ‘Joseph is still alive! As a matter of fact, he's ruling the entire land of Egypt.’ But Jacob didn't believe them, because he had become cynical [his heart had become numb]” (Genesis 45:26CloseGenesis 45:26 "Joseph is still alive!" they told him. "And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!" Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn't believe it. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ISV).

If you lost the son of your dreams, born from the wife of your dreams who also died ... that might numb your heart too, And think of Joseph's two "unfulfilled" prophetic dreams that his father had once pondered in his heart (Genesis 37:5-11CloseGenesis 37:5-11 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. "Listen to this dream," he said. "We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!" His brothers responded, "So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. "Listen, I have had another dream," he said. "The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!" This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. "What kind of dream is that?" he asked. "Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?" But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). I fully understand his cynicism. 

Oh, the joys of those who do not... join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalms 1:1-3ClosePsalms 1:1-3 Oh, the joys of those who do not  follow the advice of the wicked,  or stand around with sinners,  or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD,  meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank,  bearing fruit each season.Their leaves never wither,  and they prosper in all they do. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) NLT) emphasis added.

Never wither? How can I know for sure if I’m following God’s ways, as one who meditates on His Word? Here’s my litmus test: Am I bearing fruit in every season of life and prosperous? Or am I dry and fainting—like Jacob?

So, let's talk about us today; I’ll go first. A while back, as I was meditating on God's Word daily, as usual, and praying (in both mind and Spirit), as usual, yet I suddenly became aware that I wasn't bearing fruit in some areas, and I felt “dry and fainting.” Where was the chink in my armor? At what point had my godly meditation changed course? My deep passion is to stay true to God's word and follow His ways, so I asked for Holy Spirit's insight. 

The Spirit whispered one word: cynical. (O the sweetness of godly conviction!) He then explained that “Cynicism comes from repeated wounding, from hope deferred, trust broken, doused optimism, and shaken beliefs.” 

Which of those five descriptions strike home for you?

During that dreadful, grievous season when Joseph was missing from Jacob’s life (over 13 years?), God was working behind the scenes. He was training up and positioning Joseph to save all of Israel, as well as restore the son to the father. The reader sees this, but Jacob did not. God saw both.

God still sees both. 

He sees what's happening to you, to America and the world, right now, and He sees intimately what's going on behind the scenes where He’s vastly at work, flipping the tables on the enemy’s schemes. And we are about to see all His work manifest! ... unless the bitterness of cynicism has taken root in our thinking.

What’s the opposite of cynical? Believing, hopeful, optimistic, trusting, undoubting. The nature of Jesus reflects all five. 

After repenting from my cynicism, I received new instructions from Holy Spirit: to verbally declare these five words over myself, and to own them. I am believing, I am hopeful, I am optimistic, I am...

Father forgive me for being cynical. Holy Spirit, restore in me these five virtues. Heal my heart in these areas and restore me. In Jesus's name.

Copyright © March 2021 by J. A. Marx, used with permission.