Biblical mind renewal doesn’t require you to ignore pain, fatigue, or the reality of a hard day
Just think positive!
Protect your energy. Good vibes only!
Choose happiness every day.
Change your thoughts and you can change your life.
Positive thinking is everywhere. Scroll social media for five minutes and you’ll probably find some version of the message that if we could just think more positively, we’d feel better, live better and maybe even heal better.
But I’ve always had a problem with that idea.
What happens when life actually IS hard? What happens when you’re in pain, you haven’t slept, your symptoms have flared again, and you’re scared about what your future might look like?
Are we supposed to pretend those things aren’t happening?
Like, let’s have a reality check here, people! Truth is truth. I know when I’m in pain. I know when I’m struggling with fatigue or when my brain simply isn’t giving me the clarity I need. Thinking a happy thought doesn’t suddenly make those things untrue.
Faith Thinking Doesn’t Ask Us to Deny the Truth
This is where I think faith thinking is very different from simply telling ourselves to “think positive.”
Faith doesn’t ask us to pretend the hard thing isn’t hard. Scripture certainly doesn’t do that. David talked openly about fear, grief and discouragement. Job didn’t pretend everything was wonderful when his life was falling apart. Even Jesus wept.
Biblical mind renewal isn’t about replacing every difficult thought with a happy one. It’s about learning to recognize what is true, and then making sure fear, discouragement or our circumstances aren’t the only truth we’re listening to.
I can say, “I’m in a lot of pain today,” and still remind myself, “God is with me today.”
I can acknowledge, “I’m exhausted and I need to rest,” without deciding, “I’m never going to get better.”
And I can admit, “I’m scared about what happens next,” while also saying, “I don’t know what happens next, but I know Who I’m trusting.”
That’s “faith thinking”.
It doesn’t deny what is happening. It brings what is happening into the presence of a God who is bigger than what I can see today.
Be Careful What You Add to the Truth
Sometimes the problem isn’t the truthful thought. It’s everything we add to it.
“I’m exhausted today” may be completely true. But then our minds add, “I’m getting worse again. What if this doesn’t stop? What if I can’t do what I planned next week?” Enter hamster wheel…
Or maybe the truth is, “I had to cancel today.” And before long we’ve added, “I’m letting everyone down. People are going to stop asking me. I’m never going to be able to live a normal life.” blah blah blah…
That’s where I think we need to pay attention. Because the first statement may be true. Everything we added afterward may not be.
What If We Added an AND?
Romans 12:2 tells us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable.
Notice that Scripture doesn’t tell us to pretend.
Instead, what if we started with what is true… AND then intentionally added something else that is also true?
I’m exhausted today. AND resting today will probably help me feel better tomorrow.
I’m exhausted today. AND maybe today is a good day for some Netflix, music, or something else I enjoy that doesn’t require much energy.
I had to cancel my plans. AND protecting my energy today means I might actually enjoy the next thing I say yes to.
I had to cancel my plans. AND I’d rather rest now than push through and pay for it later.
That’s very different from trying to convince ourselves that everything is wonderful when it isn’t.
We aren’t replacing truth with positivity. We’re refusing to let one difficult truth become the only truth.
Faith Thinking Gives Our Thoughts Something More Solid
“Faith thinking” gives us somewhere solid to put our thoughts when circumstances feel uncertain. I can acknowledge what is happening in my body without allowing fear to write the rest of the story.
And there’s actually a reason this matters to our brains too. Stress, uncertainty and constantly anticipating what might go wrong can keep the brain more watchful.
If you’d like to understand more about that connection, I’ve created a free guide called God Designed Your Brain to Heal: Understanding Stress, Safety, and Your Healing Journey.
It explains in simple language why our brains become more watchful during chronic illness and how small daily practices can help create greater safety and predictability.
[Get your free copy of God Designed Your Brain to Heal here.]
“Faith thinking” doesn’t require me to say, “Everything is fine.”
Sometimes it simply allows me to say, “This is hard today… AND God is still here.”