We live in a world of highlight reels, filters, and perfect captions. And with all that comes, an incredible amount of pressure to look happy and put together at all times.
There’s a name for this relentless pressure: toxic positivity. It's this insistence that we all pretend like everything is okay, all the time, even when it isn't.
A little while back, I led an activity with our high school group about this exact phenomenon. We started by writing down the specific expectations they feel: be a top student, a standout athlete, endlessly organized. But then we flipped the script and admitted the other side by anonymously writing down a failure. Next, we shuffled all of these expectations and failures into a March-Madness–style bracket and, round by round, talked honestly about which failure was worst, and which pressure was strongest.
It was a bit silly but also deeply sacred at the same time. By the end of this weird activity, we could all see it: expectations are sky-high, and every one of us falls short sometimes. We expect a lot of ourselves and yet all of us fail in often spectacular ways.
And of course, the really message of our faith is that Jesus steps right into all of this. Jesus steps into our messy human existence and redeems all of it. And he did this by dying on the cross.
The theology of the cross is the exact opposite of Toxic Positivity. The cross is God's way of showing us that we don’t have to paste a smile over sorrow or go on pretending like we aren't struggling. Through the Cross of Christ, God abides with us in failure, fear, and grief—and from these spaces brings healing.
There’s a name for this relentless pressure: toxic positivity. It's this insistence that we all pretend like everything is okay, all the time, even when it isn't.
A little while back, I led an activity with our high school group about this exact phenomenon. We started by writing down the specific expectations they feel: be a top student, a standout athlete, endlessly organized. But then we flipped the script and admitted the other side by anonymously writing down a failure. Next, we shuffled all of these expectations and failures into a March-Madness–style bracket and, round by round, talked honestly about which failure was worst, and which pressure was strongest.
It was a bit silly but also deeply sacred at the same time. By the end of this weird activity, we could all see it: expectations are sky-high, and every one of us falls short sometimes. We expect a lot of ourselves and yet all of us fail in often spectacular ways.
And of course, the really message of our faith is that Jesus steps right into all of this. Jesus steps into our messy human existence and redeems all of it. And he did this by dying on the cross.
The theology of the cross is the exact opposite of Toxic Positivity. The cross is God's way of showing us that we don’t have to paste a smile over sorrow or go on pretending like we aren't struggling. Through the Cross of Christ, God abides with us in failure, fear, and grief—and from these spaces brings healing.
Posted in theology of the cross
Categories
Tags
Archive
2025
January
February
Zombie ChurchFundamentalsFeasts & BanquetsAcademics & FaithShattering Our ExpectationsJesus didn't really mean that, right? Sacred Discomfort: How God Speaks in Uncomfortable MomentsThe Spirit IntercedesHappy Birthday JesusChristmas in JulyJoy in ListeningHope in the Midst of DoubtThe Gift of PresenceI'm too...Daily Bread and MindfulnessA Thousand Years is like a DaySacred Interruptions: How God Speaks Through Life's Detours
March
The Life was The Light of All PeopleWaiting PatientlyUnseenCreator God, I pray for the earth...God, I want to be better at...Holy Spirit, Help me UnderstandGod, Grant Me Patience WithThe Gospel of John - Guidance for LifeJesus Christ, Forgive Me ForThe Book of 1st Samuel - Trust During the BattlesGod of the Oppressed, protect those who are vulnerableEnduring Lord, I hope forPrince of Peace, Calm my Mind When...God, I wonder aboutThe Book of Hebrews - The Grand Story of SalvationBlessed Jesus, help me to let go ofHoly Jesus, we pray for your church
April
Preserving Lord, save me fromAwesome God, I am amazed byThe Joy of LentThe Book of 2nd Samuel - God's Redemptive PowerCompassionate God, I Weep ForThe Book of Acts - Being the ChurchPalm Sunday Spoken WordGenerous God, open my eyes to see...God, I needCursing the Fig Tree Spoken WordMaundy Thursday Spoken WordGood Friday Spoken WordHoly Saturday Spoken WordThe Book of 1st Kings - Wisdom and DivisionSing - Practice ResurrectionClean - Practice ResurrectionDo a Good Deed - Practice ResurrectionGrieve - Practice ResurrectionGive Thanks - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of Romans - The Saving Work of GodLive BoldlyPlant - Practice ResurrectionForgive Yourself - Practice ResurrectionCare for a friend - Practice Resurrection
May
Enjoy a Good Meal - Practice ResurrectionListen to Music - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 2nd Kings - Hope in ExileWorship - Practice ResurrectionAppreciate Art - Practice ResurrectionLaughter HelpsDrink Water - Practice ResurrectionWatch a Sunset - Practice ResurrectionStretch - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 1st Corinthians - Hope in the TurmoilThe Lord is My ShepherdBreathe - Practice ResurrectionRead - Practice ResurrectionCreate - Practice ResurrectionWalk or Run - Practice ResurrectionCall a Friend - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 1st Chronicles - God's Presence in HistoryLove in ActionFor Aging GracefullyForgive - Practice ResurrectionLearn - Practice ResurrectionWash - Practice ResurrectionExplore - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 2nd Corinthians - The Importance of ReconciliationGod Our ParentAdvocate - Practice ResurrectionLight a Candle - Practice ResurrectionTaste - Practice ResurrectionTake a Nap - Practice ResurrectionDonate - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 2nd Chronicles - Consequences of Unfaithfulness
June
No Comments