David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine! … Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” [1 Samuel 17:32,36-37 (CSB)]
When someone has an unduly optimistic or positive view of things, they are often said to be wearing “rose-colored glasses.” According to Adam Anderson, a University of Toronto professor of psychology, our moods do affect the way we see things and, as moods change, so does our visual perception. “Good and bad moods literally change the way our visual cortex operates,” says the professor about a 2009 study he conducted. “In a positive mood,” he explained, “our visual cortex takes in more information, while negative moods result in tunnel vision.” He concluded that the better our mood, the better able our brains are to comprehend what it is our eyes are seeing. In short, we see better when we have a positive outlook of “rose-colored glasses”!
I imagine it was a set of “rose-colored glasses” that allowed young David to see the possibility of defeating Goliath with only his sling. In all of Saul’s army, there had to have been other men equally skilled with a sling but, because of their despair and pessimistic outlook, they had tunnel vision and only saw the threatening giant. Instead of an undefeatable opponent, however, David saw possibilities. Before him was an enormous man carrying a javelin, spear, and sword who was so encumbered by 125 pounds of armor that he needed another man to carry his shield. With his rose-colored glasses, David saw what the men didn’t—someone who wouldn’t be able to move fast enough to dodge a well-aimed stone. That stone came from a shepherd’s sling used to kill wild animals and, according to Malcom Gladwell, it had the stopping power of a .45 caliber handgun. With their defeatist attitude, Saul and his army only saw the power of the enemy. David’s optimism, combined with his faith in the Lord, allowed him to clearly recognize both the enemy’s weakness and his own strength and skill!
Rose-colored lenses in glasses are said to sharpen contrast, improve depth perception, and reduce glare. When wearing them, however, one must exercise caution. Things like warning flags, traffic lights, brake lights, and stop signs are colored red to make them more visible and prevent accidents, but that effect is lessened when someone is wearing glasses with pink or red lenses. In the same way, when seeing the world through “rose-colored glasses,” we must use good judgment and not get so enthusiastic about possibilities that we overlook hazards and problematic realities. In spite of his optimistic outlook, David was cautious enough to have not one but five stones in his pouch before facing Goliath. Nevertheless, the shepherd king missed all the red flags when he wanted to move the Ark of the Covenant and again when he spotted Bathsheba on the rooftop! Those times, David’s confidence and enthusiasm caused him to move out of God’s will and into his own!
Faith in God is what offers us the kind of rose-colored glasses that give clarity to life and allow us to see the big picture. It is knowing Jesus that enables us to face each morning with optimism, joy, and hope. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that allows us to see our challenges as opportunities to do God’s will. The “rose-colored glasses” of a positive attitude help us see what is right in front of us. They help us notice any weakness in the opposition, find detours in life’s roadblocks, identify solutions to our problems, and spot help when we need it. So, put on your “rose-colored glasses” and see what wonderful things the day will bring! After all, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” [Ps 118:24]
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. [Helen Keller]
Devotions of the Heart 