Beating CynicismSample

Your Past Doesn’t Have To Be Your Future

One of the greatest challenges cynics face involves how they allow the past to impact their future. Because cynicism roots itself in knowledge, it can be easy to project past failures onto future situations.

Think of a friend who hurt you. Although that relationship may be gone, the next time you see someone who reminds you of her, it’s far too easy to write off the potential new friendship, thinking “Oh, I know how this ends.” 

And that’s how your future gets ruined. Surprisingly, cynicism starts not because you don’t care but because you do care—or at least you once did. It starts because you poured your heart into something and got little in return. Or maybe you got something in return, but it was the opposite of what you desired. You fell in love, only to have that relationship dissolve. You threw your heart into your job, only to be told you were being let go. You were completely there for your mom, only to have her tell you you’re such a disappointment. 

Most cynics are former optimists. But as cynicism gains ground in your life, you start to protect yourself from future hurt. Having been burned once or twice, you tell yourself only fools get burned three times. So, you guard your heart. You shelter your soul. 

To some extent, that’s what’s happening to Peter in his encounter with Jesus in today’s scripture passage. Peter wants to limit forgiveness. He doesn’t want to play the fool, so he encourages Jesus to put a limit on grace. Seven rounds of forgiveness is enough, right? 

Watch Jesus’ response. It has the wide-eyed hope, grace and unconditional love attached to it that many of us find preposterous. And yet, that’s the very same grace Jesus showers on you. Without receiving that from God, you’d be dead. And, as Peter was soon to learn, refusing to extend it to others also kills you.

So, here’s today’s question: to what extent are you letting past failures project themselves onto future situations? Your past doesn’t have to determine your future, not if you get Jesus involved. 

Pray: God, today I confess that I have let past hurt cloud the present. I’m hanging onto the past while you’re calling me into the future. Forgive me for letting my heart stay embittered by the past. Help me to take the limits off future hope.