In this six-day series we’ve been exploring some common ways that people deal with hardship using the book of Job to guide us. We’ve talked about some negative approaches, like proof-texting Scripture, victim blaming, spiritual bypass, and blaming God. We’ve seen some alternatives that can help us cope better, such as seeking wisdom, remembering the good, feeling our feelings, and appealing to God.
Today we are going to talk about an increasing problem in society and especially in the church: toxic positivity. Even some clinical approaches to mental health treatment border on toxic positivity. Perhaps you’ve heard of “the power of positive thinking.” While positive thinking can be powerful, it’s unhelpful when you need to work through hardship. We see a bit of this in Job 4:1-6 when his friend Eliphaz first tries to cheer him up. When someone is suffering, it’s unhelpful to tell them to look on the bright side. Simple answers are for simple problems.
Instead of using toxic positivity as a response to hardship, practice humility. We need to align ourselves first with God, using a humble posture like the one Job shows in chapter 40 verses 3 through 5. Notice here that Job pulls back from some of his harsher complaints here, admitting that he has “nothing left to say.” Silence is one of the first steps to true humility. If you or someone you love has been suffering, simply pause in silence. Begin to admit that you don’t have all the answers, and it may be that some questions will remain unanswered. When you posture yourself in this way, you open the door for healing as you begin to accept your own limitations.