It is very easy to get downhearted and miserable about the state of the world. It is also easy to get the feeling that everything that can go wrong is doing so. And when personal problems pile up on top of the general state of things many people give way to despair and pessimism.

The psalm-writer knew how bad things were. He saw violence and lying everywhere. There was crookery and deception on every hand. But he remained positive. He deliberately chose not to get sucked under by the adverse circumstances and problems weighing heavily on him. He knew that beyond all the troubles and turmoil of this mortal life there was God. And he knew that his God, and Israel’s, was bigger than all the negative things that were on the go. And he knew further that beyond all the evil there was good. And he knew that God could, and did, work goodness out of evil and light up dark streets. So he expressed his confidence, confidence in God, confidence in God working His goodness and confidence in the future. He would, he dared to claim, see God working his goodness in the land where he now lived and in his lifetime.

Be as positive as the psalmist. Where there is gloom shed light. Where there is negative thinking, be positive. Don’t let the misery and despair all around you infect you with its destructive air of pessimism and doubt. Believe that God is still good. He has brought the world through much worse crises than any there are at present. He will again. Be positive and spread a positive attitude at home, work and church.