A Defeatist Attitude

A Defeatist Attitude is a Prescription for Defeat

As Christians we must believe that our ultimate welfare is in the hands of God and recognize that our life, although filled with many difficulties and struggles, is a journey of anticipation to the Eternal Life that is to come. Because this journey is not without sorrow and pain, worry and anxiety, it is easy to surrender to a defeatist attitude, and act as though we have no hope.

Our attitude, and even our speech, reflect on the health of our soul, and should be a key sign as to the wellness of our heart. If we are prone to complaining about our lives, or complaining about those around us, it is unlikely we will be prepared to choose a positive direction when the choice is before us.

The way we relate to others has an effect on their lives, and ours. If we make an effort to be positive, and live our lives with hope and faith, those around us profit, and everyone becomes healthy in spirit and in heart. Giving ourselves over to anxiety and fear does nothing but bring us down, and it pulls those around us down as well. Allowing ourselves to speak negatively does nothing to promote well-being, and can in fact be the cause of a worsening situation. Approaching life with a defeatist attitude is a surefire way of being defeated in the end.

The great King Solomon said, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven: A time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1,7)”. Negative speech contributes nothing to the heart but death. Receiving everything that comes our way with joy is the only way to bring about the healing of the heart. Negative speech is a reflection of a heart that is in need of healing, but joyful speech is like water for a thirsty plant that brings forth fruit for all around.

“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:25).”

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

About the author

Abbot Tryphon Headshot

Fr. Tryphon is the Abbot of the Monastery of the All-Merciful Saviour, which was established in 1986 by Archimandrite Dimitry (Egoroff) of blessed memory. The Monastery is under the omophore of His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

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1 thought on “A Defeatist Attitude”

  1. Irina Markovich

    and that is sooo hard, the hardest, requires constant awareness. We say "будност" being awake.

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