This sucks, let's dance.
for the cynics and those who struggle to believe that good can really exist.
I don’t think I was born a cynic, but who knows maybe I was. More likely it was something that became of me as I grew up, as I took in the realities of this world and felt the pains of being one of its inhabitants.
If you met me I doubt that you would class me as a cynic. I don’t wear black or peer over my glasses, I don’t speak in a laboured way or recount the evidence for why the world is doomed (at least not all the time haha).
I am often wearing white or light pastel colours, you will find me dancing wherever there is music, and singing around the house. You will see me play with dirt and bubbles and build dens with my daughter as if I was a child myself. You would see me celebrate people, God, and His love for this world.
But what you won't see is how my heart is fighting tooth and nail to overcome the creeping suspicion that everything and everyone is broken.
Including me.
My need for Christ is great.
That is one of the things that cynicism has gifted to me: a great awareness of my great need.
I am absolutely sure that without Christ I would be in a deep dark pit of despair and depression. I know it.
I know the darkness that creeps in my heart when I do not engage in the regular practice of opening my soul to the light of His love. I know the despair that bubbles within, triggered by news articles, music, films, and culture itself, when I do not look through the lens of His hope. I know that the joy I have is not my own, the dance I dance is not my own, the songs I sing are not my own.
They are all His gift to me, His tending of my broken soul, His mending of my broken heart.
I know my great need for Him.
The other gift that cynicism has given to me is: the strong motivation to keep my eyes fixed above.
You see the reason that cynicism is so hard to combat is because it is mostly based on facts. It is factual that politician’s bend the rules for their own gain1. Factual that the systems meant to help the vulnerable are flawed2. Factual that those we trust exploit our trust. Factual that the technology we use is designed to create addiction3.
It is all just so grievous and so broken.
It is impossible to fully comprehend and NOT get depressed without a higher perspective, a higher hope.
For me that is Christ.
And so I do not spend extended time looking at problems, not because I don’t care (trust me I do) and not because I am avoidant (trust me, not my personality) but because I know I need a higher perspective. I need instructions from on high.
Once I have a gauge of the issues that are before me, my practice is to ascend higher. To mount on the wings of eagles4 above the storm, above the noise, above the cynicism. It is from there I operate, from there I act, I pray, I hope.
And when I don’t have the strength to ascend, I do it with friends, we pray together, we dance together, we laugh together, we remember the goodness of God together. We remind one another that even though the world is broken, that our lives are broken, our God is the redeemer of all things. He is the one who turns ashes into beauty, sorrow into joy, mourning into dancing.
And we fix our gaze, on the author and perfecter of faith, and we RUN, as fast as we can, carrying as little as we can; with the aim and desire that when we finish the race we would be found like Christ, who ‘for the joy set before him… endured the cross’ (Heb 12:2).
For the joy!
For joy is our strength5, our weapon in the age of cynicism, our battle cry.
And so let us push back the creeping tide of cynicism with joy, not a joy that comes from us, but a joy that comes from knowing Him!
The One who meets my needs,
The One who holds the bigger picture,
The One who has overcome darkness.
Did you know if you hit the little love heart button below, it will help others to find this post? ♥️
Prayer corner
I really enjoyed praying with you all over the last month as a result I have decided to tag onto some of my newsletters little prayers that you too can pray.
‘Father God, my need for you is great, my heart, mind, and body are unable to withstand the tide of cynicism that bombards me each day. Lord, I need a strength that is not my own, a perspective that is higher than what I have, and a joy that overcomes.
Thank you for meeting me where I am, thank you that you don’t ask me to ignore the brokenness of this world, or to ‘think positive thoughts’ but instead you come with peace into the chaos, joy into the mourning, and hope into the darkness.
Make me aware of you today, aware of all the ways you are sustaining me, all the ways you giving me a higher perspective, and let joy be the strength I need for the day.
I love you Lord, thank you.
In your name, amen 🙏🏼’
Until next time my friends,
Love, Anna x
If you are enjoying these posts and want to support what I do, you can ‘buy me a coffee’. ☕️ Every ‘coffee’ is an encouragement to keep writing, so thank you in advance!
Have you seen?
Isaiah 40:31 ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’
Nehemiah 8:10 ‘Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’
🫶🏼 thank you! I am so glad to know my posts are being listened to as well as read ☺️
I love this Anna! So beautifully written, poetic even at times. And I’ve been in a spin of cynicism lately for all the reasons you mentioned in this post. What a great reminder to fix our eyes on the joy of Jesus, from Jesus.