Cynic
cyn·​ic | \ ˈsi-nik  \
a faultfinding captious critic
Cynicism
sĭnĭ-sĭzəm
An attitude of suspicion where you believe the future is bleak and that people are acting only out of self interest.
Example:
when you always think the worst and have a hard time seeing the good in anyone

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3‭-‬4 NIVUK

OK, so this is one thing God has challenged me to change in my life.
I am a cynic.
I can think the worst in situations and often find fault in others.  You may or may not think that of me if you met me.  But it’s often how I think about things.

It might seem like quite a benign trait. After all no one needs to know what I’m thinking right?  But it’s incredibly damaging to me and how I view others.  It really does me no good. It gives me a really pessimistic view my own life and it stops me from seeing others as God sees them.

While hope may be born out of our experience of God’s work in our lives.  Cynicism can be born out of our own experience of being let down, disappointed or even put down.  We often project that onto our own lives and onto others.

It can get really toxic when we find like-minded people who think the same about others. It can feel like a comforting thing collectively finding fault in others.  It gives us a sense of being righteous or even belonging.  But, before you know it you’ve stopped seeing them as God sees them, you don’t give regard to why they might be like they are.  At its worst it can create divisions between us that undermine the unity that we are called to have (1 Corinthians 1v10).

I’m not saying we’re all going to get along with everyone, but as Christians we all share one common experience, Jesus has changed our lives.  In the same way we have been reconciled to him, so he has “committed us to this message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:16‭-‬19)
We are also called to be “patient and bear with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2-6)

In many ways Cynicism is the exact opposite of Hope.  We can’t exercise one, while holding on to the other.  While we hold on to Cynicism, we can’t fully live in the joy of hope we have in Jesus.  And if we live in hope there is no place for cynicism.

This is about perspective and choice.
Seeing the world as God sees it and choosing to see others as God sees them.

If I’m honest this is something I’m still wrestling with God about.  But what God has highlighted to me is how damaging it can be, particularly to me.
It blinds me to whatever future plans God has for me. 
It makes me think so many things are impossible for me, when the Bible tells me “…with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIVUK).
It denies me the hope I have in Jesus
Perhaps worst of all it makes me judgmental and finding fault in others.
For this I am truly sorry.

In so many ways I’m thankful to God that I am going through this experience. This may sound a strange thing to say, and I wouldn’t wish it anyone. But, without it I may never have been open to be challenged or had the opportunity to change. I may not have fully known the extent of God’s love for me and my family.
For this I am so grateful.